Back at the sanctuary she called home, Hermione allowed her frustration to roam free: her chair got a rough deal as the punching bag for her feet; her pacing back and forth nearly digging circles into the carpet in the living room of her childhood home. Her parents had died in a car accident shortly after she recovered their memories, undoing the obliviate spell she had used to protect them during the War.
"My life is ruined… I can't believe this… Me and the ferret? Five years? Fuck my life, just go and avada me right on the spot." Her fury was so alive, very much visible on her red face, red-rimmed eyes full of anger; wildly gesturing around her, switching between pulling her hair and her hands clenching in a fist, "That Malfoy git will never touch me, I'll hex his balls if his uhh… thing comes near my…" Another chair tumbled from a new vicious kick.
With a humph she sits on her loveseat, sobbing, letting her head rest on her hands in defeat; and this is how Harry and Ginny found her later, their happy smiles dying fast at the sight of the distressed witch.
"Oh, Hermione, sis." Harry hurried to Hermione, engulfing her in a tight hug while sitting next to her, "Arthur and I have pleaded the Ministry to stop this stupid law, but they had no ears." His hands stroked her hair, searching for a way to calm the curly haired girl he loved as a sister, "We all regret that you and Ron weren't coupled together," a muffled female snort was heard, "Yeah, forget that one too. According to the Minister, the couples have been paired, based on the highest compatibility tests of sorts, and they must believe you and Malfoy to be each other's best match."
Ginny spoke for the first time, "'Mione, look at it from another point of view: he looks good, he…" Harry looked up with a raised eyebrow, "Ginny, love. Have you forgotten that I'm right here?"
"Tone down the jealousy Harry, you know that I love you, but I'm not blind, and he's a good-looking bloke for a snake." Facing Hermione again, Ginny continued her reasoning, occupying the seat next to the brunette, "You are stuck for five years, I know, it sounds like hell if you are matched with someone you don't like…"
The brunette grunted, "Try hate."
Ginny moves on, "Hermione, please. Okay, I know, you hate him. But you are stuck with him whether you like it or not unless you are willing to give up your magic?" Ginny looked deep into Hermione's brown eyes, "That's what I thought. Go with the flow, and don't kill him. Fantasize about, I don't know, that Thor guy you always talk about or another guy, while Malfoy has his way with your body. You'll have to have his baby and baby's mean sex, there's no other way around it." Sighing she continued her argumentation, "You might enjoy it, he's known to be the Slytherin sex god…"
Harry exclaimed, "GINNY!"
"Not again Harry. And don't worry, I don't need Thor, I have my own superhero." Wink and nudge on his leg over the girl she tried to cheer up, "Hermione, you know what? Come with us and spend a few days at the Burrow. You can rest, let my mum pamper you, and then you'll face Malfoy with a fresh mind." Ginny pulled Hermione from her seat "Go on, 'Mione. Pack whatever you need, we will be leaving shortly." Her voice determined, giving the other witch no other option than to accept the last minute invitation.
-oOo-
Flooing into the Burrow, her mood changed completely. Molly had closed her arms tightly around her, in a simple warm mother-hen hug, and once Hermione freed herself, she faced a wide smiling George. "Leave it up to me, sister," he exclaimed, engulfing her in a bear hug, "I'll design a candy that does the opposite of those blue pills some male Muggles ingest for the performance, those Viaderas."
"You mean Viagra?" snorts Ron while all the others look at him, puzzled, "Not that I need it, I'm fully functional," his cheeks blushed redder with the second. On the contrary of Hermione, her ex-boyfriend was quite pleased with his assigned witch, Luna, "I could have ended with Pansy, that would have been hell." His happy demeanour only irritated Hermione more, but when she saw George give his best personification of Malfoy by imitating his mannerisms, she broke into a boulder laugher; his chin high up in the air, and his hand waved an invisible crumble from his shoulders, "Ah… five years… they'll be gone on a whim," his voice dripping from Malfoy's high and mighty tone.
Harry added, "You are a genius Hermione, Malfoy will know better than not to mess with you," his arm was once again around her shoulders, hugging her tight.
"Enough with the murder plans, we have a huge feast to plan!" Molly became the Weasley sergeant, clapping her hands and commandeering Hermione to help with the planning of a triple wedding ceremony: Harry and Ginny's, Ron's with Luna and George's with his longtime girlfriend Angelina – the couple was relieved that their relationship had been acknowledged by the Ministry. The usual chaos in the Weasley house made Hermione forget her own frustrations, it even helped restore her understanding with Ron, albeit at a baby-pace speed.
She was forced her to return to her reality with the arrival of a polite dinner invitation at Malfoy Manor, carried by an impressive eagle owl a few days later. "To get to know each other better, it reads," her tone was sarcastic, reading the note out loud to the others, the elder Weasley pair were concerned about Hermione's state of mind. "I'll give him his 'get to know' in his arse, him and his father, Mister Mighty Lucius Malfoy." The family matriarch remarked, worried, "You need to start accepting the course of your life, Hermione. The Malfoy's will be part of your life from now on, my dear."
Hermione heard Molly's comment, but decided to ignore it, "Ah ha! I'm getting married in a long-sleeved dress, one of those with a high neck and long skirt. In BLACK!"
Molly shakes her head, "Tsk, we will have none of that, my dear, it's a wedding, not a funeral. You will go shopping for a nice dress, together with Ginny and me."
Hermione couldn't help it, "It's my funeral Molly," her finger pointing at her chest, upset. "I'm not getting married to the man of my dreams, I am not going to have the forever-after fairy tale with a man that I long after, that I respect, and where it would mean the world to me to carry his baby under my heart. I'm being forced to spend the upcoming five years in an environment of hostility and disrespect." She began to pace in front of all those that had gathered around her, "Have they given us the chance to find a partner? No! They simply assigned us to one another, like cattle. So it is my funeral, my free will is being buried."
Molly sighed, "Hermione, I cannot agree with you more than I already do, but these are the cards you have been dealt with. You can choose out of two options: try to make the best of it, and I truly hope that along the way, you both can find a way to co-exist if better can't be achieved, or, you can make your life a living hell by only focusing on the bad side." She paused for a second to allow the words sink in, she continued, "My dear, you are a daughter to me, and no daughter of mine will be marrying in black. We'll find a nice wedding dress for you."
"No white!"
The older woman indulged, "No white."
-oOo-
Hermione apparated at the main doorstep of the Manor; although Malfoy's note mentioned that the wards had been adjusted to allow her within the house, she chose to enter through the front door instead of flooing in. Draco met her at the entrance, perfectly still and wearing a mask of indifference on his face, "Welcome to the Malfoy Manor, Granger." He politely extended his hand, which she accepted, and he escorted her to the great hall where his mum awaited; the older woman sported an unsure smile on her lips. Though her eyes spoke of sadness; Hermione couldn't help thinking, probably considering me to be the worst pick of a bride for her son.
"Welcome Hermione, I'm glad to finally meet you, my dear. Draco speaks highly of you," Hermione barely contained a snort as a reaction to Narcissa's welcoming words that sounded surprisingly genuine to brunette. "Come forward to the warmth of our drawing room Hermione. You don't mind me calling you by your given name, do you? Considering the circumstances, I think we should be less formal. As soon as the house elf brings us some refreshments, I'll give you a tour of the house, I assume you must be tired of the trip."
"Thank you, Mrs. Malfoy, for the warm welcome." Hermione didn't have the nerve to be rude to this woman, as she hadn't forgotten the part Draco's mother had fulfilled at the end of the war, a lie that played a significant role in Harry's victory.
"No Mrs. my dear, call me Narcissa, I want us to be friends," Narcissa insisted, murmuring to herself with the same breath, "I need us to be." She regained her control easily and continued, "Lucius will be joining us for dinner, but at the moment he has some urgent matters to deal with..." the nervous finger gesture showed Narcissa's uneasiness. What she really meant was, how Lucius was preparing his case against the accusations, he was being put to trial for by the Wizengamot, which could lead to his imprisonment at Azkaban, in the worst-case scenario for an undetermined period of time.
The trio entered the very room where Bellatrix had tortured Hermione, the word mudblood on her forearm itched all of a sudden or so she imagined. The memories invaded Hermione, who faltered a step; the vivid reminders of her torture, however, got shoved aside in a heartbeat by sheer willpower, I can't run away from this damned fate and the acceptance that this room would be part of her life for the next five years.
A house elf approached with glasses full of ice tea, screeching "Homemade," but he muttered between his teeth, "The better wine is not to be given to a mudblood," side eyeing Hermione, 'What have we become… Ouch, Auw Auw!"
"Watch your mouth, mutt," Draco pulls the elf by his ear till they are at same eye height.
Hermione waves with her hand, "Let him loose Draco, I'm used to Kreacher's bad talk, nothing new here," choosing to ignore the insults coming from the elf.
"I don't want him to be rude to you, he is to serve you with the same loyalty as he does to us as long as you live here." Draco's tone sounded dry to her but aggressive towards the elf, "Do you understand Krops? You will not like the consequences!" Every word he says to the elf is followed by a rude shake at the elf's ear, dangling like a doll in Draco's hand.
"Yes, yes, Master Draco, certainly," with one last hateful blink towards Hermione the elf disappears from their sight.
"Take a glass Hermione, I hope you like ice tea," Draco handles it abruptly, his tone was dry once more.
Their eyes met briefly, "Thank you." but she averted her gaze fast to his mother.
"My dear, my apologies for the rudeness of our elf, I'll have a decent talk later with that thing. But let us get to know each other. Draco told me you were one of the top students from Gryffindor, better than Harry…"
Hermione lifts an eyebrow in surprise, "I loved school, to be honest, runes was one of my favourites."
"So was Draco's, right son?" Narcissa looked curious from Hermione to Draco, hoping her son would let go of his closed demeanour, acting so distant was just increasing her own anxiety.
"Mother, not that much", he answered her gritting his teeth, this polite chit-chat was rubbing him the wrong way.
"Please son, don't be silly, you don't need to be ashamed of liking some subjects other than Quidditch and potions, rest in peace Severus" Narcissa makes a cross with her hand in a Muggle kind of way, drawing a light smile from Hermione. The efforts coming from his mother differed intensely compared to the indifferent act of her son. If silence gets too uncomfortable, there will always be runes to talk about. What a beautiful foreseeable future ahead, indeed a lucky one ahead. Her thoughts couldn't be more sarcastic.
His mother tries again to break the ice, "Do you like to read Hermione? We..."
He sneered ironically, "I think there's no book in that library at Hogwarts that she hasn't read. Mother?" He faces his mother with an incredulous look in his eyes, as he feels a reprimanding tick on the back of his head, "Draco behave! I haven't raised you like this. Be gentle with your future wife." Narcissa could still make him flinch with a single glare.
Hermione ignored his comment, "I do enjoy reading Mrs. Mal… I mean Narcissa. I've read so many that I've lost count, even Shakespeare has gone through my hands, not only study books."
"I'm glad that the future Mrs. Malfoy is literate, at least." The arrogant words came from behind her, as Lucius entered the room, using his cane to increase his haughty attitude. "My grandchild will have some intellect coming from his maternal side as well." He looks down at her defiantly, while extending his hand, "We haven't properly been introduced in the past, I believe. I'm Lucius Malfoy head of the Malfoy family," expecting her to not meet his gesture. Hermione, however, does accept the hand, looking Lucius straight in the eye with a defying glare; she saw right through his game and refused to be belittled.
Silence filled the room, as Lucius looks horrified at their hands, fearing contamination of any kind.
"Hermione, please come with me. I'll give you a tour of the Manor, come," Narcissa stands up from her seat and gestures her to follow. "This is a huge mansion, owned by the Malfoy family for centuries and I lost count of how many times I got lost in the beginning. I was barely older than you, you know. I mean you're 19 right?"
As both women leave the room, one speaking, the other listening out of politeness, Lucius turns to Draco, in his authoritarian tone, "This is not going to happen, you'll not marry a mudblood, I won't allow it."
"Drop the insult, father. That word has lost every meaning; if your Lord has proven a point, it was that they bleed just like us." Draco paced nervously back and forth, the absence of Hermione gave him some room to breathe, and drop the indifferent mask he kept during the whole time, "What do you suggest me to do Dad? Should I avada her tonight, and share a cell with you in Azkaban? Throw her in the dungeons and hope Potter forgets about his beloved bff Granger? Or, do you know a secret spell in which she can get pregnant without me touching her? Tell me," his gestures revealing his feeling of powerlessness, "I'm unhappy with this new law as much as you are but I'm the one who has to deal with it. Not you!" The rage in Draco's voice is burning. "She and I are both in this shit, haven't you seen her face? She would rather throw me at the fire pit if she had the chance, she despises me is as much as I do her. I wonder who was the genius who put us together?"
Lucius tried to intervene, "I'll speak to my connections at the Ministry and…"
"News flash Father: You have no connections." Draco could barely contain his angry words, spoken through his teeth, "That time was gone the moment you decided to join your Dark Lord's journey instead of ignoring it. YOU destroyed the very bit of dignity we still had, and you are facing Azkaban or even the kiss. Haven't you paid attention to Mother's grief?" His eyes were spitting fire, Draco's rage roaming free, "The time that people feared the name Lucius Malfoy belongs to the past Father." He stopped to gather himself together, sighing, "I have no idea how we'll survive five years together, one of us is more likely to kill the other. I even dare to bet my galleons that I'll end with the short straw. She made it very clear that we will not happen. We will have no sex; we will have no offspring. Her English was quite articulated on that point. Zero room for any misunderstanding." Draco's hand shoved through his hair desperately. "Five fucking years, not one, nor two. Five." His glass shattered against the fireplace.
He faced the window, looking out into the dark, arms behind his back and deep in thought, as both women enter the room quite sometime later. His mother has a warm smile on her face listening to something Hermione was saying, though he can't hear what it's about, but it was apparently making his mother smile. That image disarmed his frustrations and forced his rage to melt. Hermione clearly is more at ease with his mother, but as soon as her eyes made contact with him, the disdain she feels for him returns instantly in her gaze. However, his mother looks again the woman she used to be before the whole war, due in particular to Hermione's efforts and for that he cannot feel anything else but gratitude, a fact that he apparently attempts to display in his expression.
His mother's questioning at the dinner table, during their meal, disturbed by derisive snorts from his father, was alternated by Hermione's replies, which clearly ignored the animosity. Draco let the whole evening flow through him, in silence. In the end, they agree to meet the law requirements by marrying by the end of the week, with the guarantee from Lucius that the couple would have a separate wing at their disposal henceforth.
Draco walks her out, again through the main entrance, by her choice. She says her goodbyes, but he held her arm in a gentle gesture, "Granger, thank you for being nice to my mother. She's the complete opposite of my father, and also a victim of that evil force."
"Malfoy, let her be the only family member that I enjoy."
As she returns home, she can't help thinking, 5 years… 1825 days…43800 hours… unless they end up killing each other.