Author's note: Hello! Thanks to all of you who have checked out this fic. Means a lot to me. All right, on with the chapter.

Disclaimer: I obviously do not own anything. I merely borrow characters and twist them into random plots.


Tightrope

Chapter Two:

Take Cover


Draco was angry. No, angry was too nice of a word. He was livid. Of all of the things the stupid Ministry asked him to do this had to be the worst idea imaginable. He had to marry Hermione-I know-everything-Granger. For years, years. He couldn't believe it. It would be easier to turn his own wand on himself versus the former. Why did he need rehabilitation again? Oh yes, because the Minister of Magic thought it would be best for the wayward offspring of Death Eaters to try to assimilate them into life after the war.

Draco gave an uncharacteristic snort. He was fine the way that he was. He didn't need this bloody program. He especially didn't need Hermione Granger to be the one to teach him to be a better person. He wanted to rage! He wanted to march back to the Ministry and give them a piece of his mind, but he knew he couldn't, or else he would get thrown in jail like his father. Sighing, Draco plopped ungracefully on the couch. He let his head rest on the back of the couch and closed his eyes.

The sound of the floo activating made Draco crack an eye open and lift his head. Blaise and Pansy stepped out one at a time. Draco sat up properly and gave them his full attention. Blaise sat down in the chair closest to the fireplace and Pansy sat down on the other side of the couch.

The three of them were all quiet for awhile before Pansy spoke.

"I don't understand why I get Boy Wonder, Draco gets Miss know-it-all, and Blaise gets Padma. I bet they planned this," she huffed crossing her arms over her chest.

Blaise put his arms behind his head and gave them both a smirk. "It seems like I made out like a fat rat. Don't get me wrong, the Patil twins are horrible and generally don't shut up when they're together. Plus they have that weird thing where they often speak at the same time, but it's better than what the two of you were dealt."

"If I don't kill myself during this 'program' then I'm sure Granger will."

"At least with Potter, we'd avoid each other as much as possible until he felt heroic enough to try to change me, but Granger will probably ride your arse to the point you won't have any privacy."

Draco looked at Pansy and knew she was right. How many times had Granger stuck her bookworm-like nose into things she shouldn't have no matter the risk. It only aggravated Draco more. He sat up and placed his elbows on his thighs and put his head in his hands.

They were quiet once more thinking about their fates as Gryffindor and Ravenclaw slaves. The sound of a beak hitting the window broke the silence. Draco looked up from his hands and turned to see a Ministry owl perched on his windowsill. He got up, dragging his feet the whole time. He knew that whatever the letter said couldn't be good. He opened the window and the bird held out its leg. Draco took it and the owl flew away. He unrolled the parchment and let his silver eyes scan over it quickly.

Mister Malfoy,

Please come to the Ministry at noon. Miss Granger will be waiting for you there so you can start your program. Failure to be at the Ministry on time will result in time in Azkaban.

- Kingsley Shacklebolt, Minister of Magic

Draco walked back to his seat, but not before he threw the letter into the fire. He couldn't believe the last line of the letter. Time in Azkaban. He bet that in Granger's letter there was no mention of jail time. She was above the law it seemed, but he surmised that regardless of the fact that she didn't want to do this as much as he did, she would just because she's a good person. It only made Draco dislike the wench more. She was such a selfless person.

"What was that?" Pansy asked knocking Draco from his thoughts.

"The Minister sent me a nice little message about how I'll go to jail unless I show up tomorrow so I can 'marry' Granger," Draco spat out.

"Oh fantastic. I'm sure I'll have one of those when I go home as well," Blaise said sitting up from his chair.

"Goody," Pansy said sarcastically.

"I need a drink, do you all want one?" Draco asked getting up from the couch. He didn't want to think about his fake marriage to Granger nor his rehabilitation.

~-O-~

Eleven in the morning dawned bright and early for Draco. He groaned as the light shined through his curtains and onto his face. He pulled his covers over his head and closed his eyes again. How much did he, Pansy, and Blaise drink last night? He could conclude one thing at least, he drank enough to forget about his predicament.

Draco's eyes popped open. He sat up so quickly that his head swam and he had to brace himself and put his hands down in front of him. He drank so much that he successfully forgot about "marrying" Granger today.

"Fuck! Cobra!" Draco called.

The elf appeared with a crack next to his bed. "Yes, Master Draco?"

"I need a hangover potion and my bath drawn."

"Yes Master," the elf said before leaving the room with another crack.

Draco looked at his clock and saw that it was 11:15. He got out of bed and immediately had to sit back down. Where was that elf? He needed that potion now. No sooner had he thought it, Cobra came back with the potion. Draco took it out of his hands gratefully and chugged it. He could already feel his headache ceasing and his vision returning to normal. He let out a sigh of relief.

"Your bath is drawn and ready, Master."

"Thank you, Cobra. That'll be all." He dismissed the elf with a simple hand gesture and got up to take his bath.

Fifteen minutes later, Draco was out of the bath and picking out his clothes. He wrinkled his nose as he looked through his closet. All of his clothes were expensive and definitely too good for Granger or the Ministry. Not having enough time to think about it really, he grabbed something he'd wear everyday and quickly dressed. He only had fifteen minutes to Floo to the Ministry and get to the Minister's office.

Draco rushed down the stairs until he reached the main den. His mother was sitting on the davenport. Draco skidded to a halt.

"When were you going to tell me you have to marry that Granger girl?" Narcissa asked without turning around to look at her son.

Draco was quiet for a moment. He didn't have time to talk about this right now. He should have told her about this yesterday, but he was just so angry that all he wanted to do was forget. "Mother, can we speak about this when I get back? I have to go now."

"Don't think you'll get out of this Draco Lucius Malfoy," she warned turning to look at him.

"I know I'm not, but if I don't leave now, I'll go to jail."

Narcissa shut her mouth at his pronouncement. "Very well," she said a moment later.

He gave her a grateful look before Floo-ing to the Ministry. Walking at a causal speed, Draco made it to the lifts, but as soon as it stopped on the Minister's floor, he made a jog for it. He ignored the secretary and opened the door. Of course Granger was already seated and speaking to the Minister.

"Ah, Mister Malfoy, glad you have decided to join us," Kingsley said giving him a warm smile.

Draco narrowed his eyes at the man. What a prick. "Not like I had a choice," he said bitterly.

Kingsley just shrugged his shoulders. "Well, do the two of you have anything to say before we get started?"

Draco gave Hermione a glance from the corner of his eye and grimaced. He could see how she tried to tame her hair by braiding it, but it barely worked. He looked back at the Minister and shook his head. Hermione did the same.

"All right then." He pushed papers towards the two of them. "All you have to do is sign your names on the lines at the bottom of these pages and that's it."

"That's it?" Draco asked incredulously.

"Yes, Mister Malfoy, that is it. Did you think I would make you go through a wedding ceremony?"

Truth be told, Draco didn't know what he'd make them do. It seemed like it was Kingley's sole goal in life was to try to ruin Draco's. "Who knows what'd you do."

"I suppose that's fair, but I know I'm forcing this upon both of you and why further the embarrassment by making this into an actual wedding," he said smiling at Draco.

"Right, whatever. Can I sign the papers and get out of here?"

Hermione slid the papers over to Draco. He didn't say anything to her as he took them and grabbed a quill. He hurriedly signed his name and pushed them towards the Minister. Once Draco signed the last paper, he could feel the magic binding him to the paper and thus Hermione. Dread started to fill him instantly. It was done and there was nothing he could do, short of dying. No, he was fairly sure that there would be some sort of stipulation even if he did die. Bugger it all!

"All right, all done."

Draco stood, but Kingsley gave him a look to sit back down. He did as he was commanded.

"Before you both go off on your merry little way, I have one more thing that we have to do."

Draco groaned out loud. Hermione and Kingsley both looked at him. "And what would that be?"

"The Ministry has assigned a house for the two of you to stay in for the duration of this

'program'."

Draco loved the way he put it. He wish he could punch the man in the face or send a nasty hex his way. He wanted to at least knock that smile off of his face; the smile that did nothing but taunt him.

"What?" Draco heard Hermione ask.

Draco felt a smirk light up his face. "Oh, come, come Granger, you didn't think that we'd be living separately, did you? How naïve. To think they call you the Smartest Witch of our Age."

"Shut up, right now, Malfoy." She pointed a threatening finger his way. "I knew we'd be living together, but so soon?"

"I'm afraid so, Miss Granger."

She looked like she was going to protest and Draco couldn't help but take pleasure in her discomfort. Of course he agreed with her―something he wished he could desperately take back―but he would never say that out loud. He thought they'd have a little time to spend apart before they had to live together.

"The two of you will have time to pack your belongings after the house is shown to you," Kingsley told them.

"When are we getting shown the house?" Granger asked.

"As soon the realtor gets here."

The door opened emitting a tall woman with long blonde hair and brown eyes. Draco looked her over and was at least somewhat happier that he had been since he woke up.

"Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, this is Gemma McDermott. She will be showing you your new house," Kingsley introduced them.

"Nice to meet you both," she gave them a smile.

"Nice to meet you, too," Draco said giving her a smile of his own.

He heard Granger scoff next to him. He shot her a look, but then turned back to Gemma.

"All right if you'll come with me, we'll get you to your house."