DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter. All the characters portraid are property of one brilliant J. K. Rowling. Only the plot is mine. I do not profit from this in any way.


Chapter 3 – The meeting

The next day was an eventless one and it went by rather quickly, with the new books Hermione bought being her only company. Before she knew it, it was Friday morning and she was starting to get a little nervous about the entire situation and especially about the specific event to occur in the afternoon. Having to meet someone she barely knew to discuss a marriage proposal was strange enough in itself, but the fact that said person was going to be Malfoy just made the entire ordeal even more peculiar. Although she had known the boy for years, the man was probably someone totally different. Or not. And that's what she feared the most. She was faced with three possibilities: he either (a) changed to the exact opposite of who he was before, due to the events that occurred a few years prior; (b) he maintained his arrogant, self-centered and snob way of being; or (c) he became even worse than before and accentuated his worst psychological treats.

'It is really hard to imagine that prat being even worse, but I can't rule any option out, considering… well, everything. I mean, if the Ministry can come up with this clever idea to get us all married, I think it is possible that Malfoy became even worse. Or. OR he can have become better. I just hope is the last one because if he is still the same spoiled little ferret, I won't be biting on this bait.' Hermione thought while she was brushing her teeth, taking a bath, eating breakfast, and every single chore she did that morning. She had to be prepared for all possibilities or she wouldn't be Hermione Granger.

Lunch hour sped by and then it was time to get ready to leave at 3.30pm. She dressed, put on a small amount of make-up, something with a natural look, and then took off.

It was a quiet time to go around the city, because the majority of people were still at work. She didn't take long to arrive at the appointed place and so she was a bit early. She entertained herself looking around at the peculiar buildings and noticed some details she had never seen before, amazed at how some little details made all the difference in the aesthetics of something. Not long after, at 4pm o'clock, Malfoy turned the corner and met her eye. 'Is that him? Wow. He's different.' Malfoy approached with a calm but steady pace, fixed on his target. He was wearing a well-tailored grey suit, a white shirt, green tie and dark brown shoes. He was 'elegant' as Hermione would put it.

'Well, isn't that a surprise? Granger's all grown up.' he thought 'And well grown, I might add'. He was observing how the black pants fit her sitting area and the white shirt and emerald green cardigan fit her… well, it doesn't need extra explanations.

'Good afternoon Miss Granger.' he said when he got close enough.

'Good afternoon Mr. Malfoy.' she replied back with the same weird politeness.

'Shall we go in?' he stretched out his arm in the direction of the The Three Broomsticks.

'Yes, please.'

And so they did. They found a table for two and sat down. While perusing the menu, Hermione gave discrete peeps over it to observe his behavior and his looks. When she wasn't looking, he did exactly the same to her.

The waiter came, took their order and left them to their fortune.

'I want to thank you for coming, Miss Granger.' Malfoy started.

'Please, Malfoy. Drop the act. We were classmates a few years ago. Call me Hermione.' It was just too strange for Hermione all the pomp and circumstance that Draco insisted in.

'Ok, you're right. Hermione then. As such, you should call me Draco.'

'Fine, Mal… Draco.' she reluctantly finished.

'As I was saying before you interrupted me to complain about names' he gave her a look of disapproval and continued 'I want to thank you for sparing me a little of your time to give me this opportunity. I wouldn't have been less surprised if you were the one to contact me.' he scrutinized her face, searching for any hidden emotions but he found none. 'I guess our little Gryffindor has learned a few tricks along the way.'

'It's all right, I guess.' she answered, still maintaining a straight face, no emotions escaping her features.

'So, how are you? I haven't seen you since… well… since the war.' his voice was calm but he looked at her with what looked like an apologising expression. It was when the word war came out of his lips that her steely expression seemed to vanish for a tenth of a second, changing almost inconspicuously to a pained one.

'I'm fine. Nothing new, really.' she answered, her steely expression back to her face, giving no clues to what was going on on her head. Or so, she thought. When Malfoy mentioned the war, he noticed her subtle change in expression and decided that maybe it wasn't a good conversation starter for a date. Not that this is a date. I mean, I'll just explain what I want and show her the advantages a marriage with me can have. She can't deny them. How could she? I am Draco Malfoy, pureblood, heir of the Malfoy's estate and fortune, what's there not to like?

After the sudden silence between them, Hermione decided to try to get what she went there for. 'Look, Malfoy… I mean, Draco. I don't know what your objective with this is, but I am perfectly aware of mine. I came here to know why you would propose to me. That's the only thing I want to know'.

'Fine, then. Well, first of all, I didn't propose to you. I sent a marriage proposal to the Ministry of Magic.'

'Sounds the same to me.' she argued.

'It is not the same' he insisted 'A marriage proposal – on paper, like this one – is a cold, emotionless act, imposed by the Ministry of Magic, as an answer to whatever they think is threatening our world. Now, a true marriage proposal is something completely different. Something made out of love, not obligation; out of will to become a person's life partner, not a business one.' Malfoy almost didn't perceive the change in his own tone when he started talking about love and true marriage. Almost. As soon as he did he changed back to his business-like mode. 'Ahm… Anyway, details aside, I do believe that a union between the two of us would be extremely beneficial for both.'

'And how is that?' asked Hermione with her typical inquiry tone (AN: I'm sorry to interrupt but I couldn't not explain the tone I imagined in my mind. Imagine her asking this with the tone Emma Watson used on DH1 when she asks Harry and Ron 'And how is it you just happen to have the sword of Gryffindor?' after they destroyed the medallion. Sorry, on with the story :3). 'You do realize that this union is not just like one of your business partnerships, right?'

She was losing it. How can he be that calm when our lives are about to take a 180º spin?

'Yes, I do realize that. But I also realize that this could be a lot worse.' his tone calm as ever.

'Oh really? Would you care to explain? We are obliged to marry and have children with another person – who's most likely someone we barely know – just because the Ministry thinks that is the only option to diminish or eliminate the birth of squibs! Can you please spare a minute to tell me how could it be worse?'

It was done. She was on fire. She was letting everything out, careless of who's with her or around. Even so, Malfoy was determined to convince her and so he let her finish and then proceeded to answer her request.

'Gra… Hermione, I know that, and I also agree that this is one of the stupidest ideas of all time. But they did it. It's done! And now all we can do is deal with it the best way we can. To do that we have to find the best option among the worst. For you and me, maybe this is it! Maybe you are my best option and maybe I am your best option.'

'But this is wrong! You hate me! How can I be your best option?! I am the big toothed, wild hair, know-it-all mudblood, remember? I'm a Gryffindor! I am – or at least I think I am' – Harry Potter's best friend!'

'Not all of that is true. You have perfect teeth.' he tried with a sheepish smile.

Hermione stared at him for a moment, unbelieving her situation, but just a few seconds after she just cracked up laughing. Of all the things he could come up with to turn her mood around he chose the teeth. She couldn't avoid laughing at his face because his attempt seemed genuine. He really was trying.

When she started laughing he relaxed and laughed along. 'She truly has a beautiful smile'

'Look, Hermione, I know I am not your prince charming, but I also know we are both intelligent and know how to turn bad events around. I am just saying that maybe this time we don't have to do it alone.' Hermione looked into his grey eyes and tried to find any trace of malice. She found none.

'So, what do you say? Are you up to the challenge?' he asked her, with his left eyebrow raised, challenging her. Hermione was never a person to turn down a challenge, so she did what she always does – accepted it by saying 'I've heard you like history', giving him a raised eyebrow in return.

From that moment, it was game on. The Ministry created a difficult situation for all the Wizarding World, but they didn't have to face it alone. They could work together to make the best of a terrible situation, even if it meant to make peace with old enemies.


AN: I know, I know. It has been ages since I published. I am so sorry for that. But I have two reasons: (1) College has been crazy because I am taking a master's degree on Organizational Psychology and I have evaluations and work every week, which gives me almost no time to do anything besides college work; and (2) my muse must have been taking some extended vacation to neverland because I just couldn't come up with the words to this chapter. I just stood in front of the computer and nothing emerged, so I apologize if this chapter is not as good, but I have been wanting to get it 'over with' for some time now.
I want to thank all of those who took the time to review and I hope I am living to the expectations :)
Hope you liked this one and I promise I will have another one up soon (I'm currently on "Férias da Páscoa" [Easter Break, Spring Brake, etc, etc.] so I have a bit more spare time). Have fun! Happy Easter ;)