Hermione stared at the young man in front of her not quite sure how to respond to his attempt at humour. It sounded foreign to her to hear Draco Malfoy trying to joke.
"Well at least we agree on it being ridiculous," she said, eventually.
Draco looked her up and down not bothering to disguise his assessment of her. "Well, at least this is better than I expected."
"This? Are you referring to me?" Hermione felt her hackles rise immediately.
"Yes, I mean you. You've actually grown up rather nicely haven't you?" Draco sneered at her and Hermione wanted to slap his pretty face. "You're pictures when you promote your books don't do you justice."
Hermione realized he was actually being complimentary but somehow it still sounded condescending and patronizing. "How about I give you an assessment of your appearance? Would you like a mark out of 10?" She tried to look him up and down as he had done to her but somehow it didn't come across quite the same.
"Mmmm...yes please," Draco smirked at her and she tried not to look at him too closely. He really was ridiculously attractive and she was finding it annoying. What did she care what he looked like? Why couldn't she just ignore it? It was then she realized that she was no longer dealing with Draco Malfoy, the school bully because when he had been annoying it had definitely detracted from any physical attractiveness he may have had. This was different as she was now dealing with a grown man and despite the fact she was beginning to think she'd like to strangle him it didn't seem to make one iota of difference to her finding him incredibly attractive. She squared her shoulders, not willing to give into him.
"Well, maybe if you keep this shut," she indicated his mouth, "you might scrape a 4. The sneering, sarcastic comments make it a 2 though, sorry."
"You're lying," Draco seemed completely unconvinced by her lie. "And I really hope you are or the rest of our lives are going to be pretty miserable." He flashed her grin and she stared at him open mouthed as the reality of their situation really hit her. She was going to marry this man and have a baby with him! They needed to try and work together or it was going to be hell on earth.
"You're right, we need to try and get along or we will both be miserable," she said. "I'll do my best to not snap at everything you say."
"So what is my real mark out of 10 then?" Draco asked her and she sighed.
"You need to take this seriously and try and speak to me in a civil manner," she folded her arms in front of her chest but Draco's eyes narrowed, his face set in a line.
"I'm not Potter. No-one tells me how to behave and certainly not you."
"I'm trying to offer some sort of compromise!" Hermione protested.
"I'm perfectly aware how serious this situation is," Draco leant towards her and she had no trouble believing him. "But I do as I please. I always have and I don't expect this situation to alter my life in any way."
"What? Of course it will alter your life! You're about to get married and have a child!"
"Yes but just to make things clear before we start, I may be married to you legally but I won't be playing the dutiful husband...if you understand my meaning," Draco nodded his head.
"Oh my god! Is that all you're concerned about? Your sex life!" Hermione shook her head in disbelief.
"Obviously you don't have one to worry about so I wouldn't expect you to understand," Draco said and Hermione felt her temper snap.
"Listen to me, Malfoy! I will not tolerate constant derogatory insults and implications. You have already told me that I've grown up nice so don't make out like you think I haven't got a love life. You want to have sex with every female in a five mile radius then be my guest but don't think you can insult me!" she poked her finger in his chest but it hurt her more than him so she stopped.
Draco held his hands up in mock surrender. "Hey! Whoa! I was joking, Granger! Merlin! Get a sense of humour!" Hermione bit her lip, not entirely believing that he had been joking but feeling slightly ashamed at her outburst. She needed to try and keep her temper in check. Draco smirked wickedly at her. "Anyway, whatever sex you may have had up until this point will mean nothing after I've finished with you."
"Ewww!" Hermione put her head in her hands and groaned. Even the thought of it made her feel sick. Not because Draco was unpleasant, the opposite was true, at least appearance wise but for Hermione having sex and more importantly making babies should be about love and trust. She felt Draco tap her on the shoulder and she looked up.
"Again, I was kidding," he said, this time his voice was gentle. "I do get it, Granger. It's different for girls, especially one's like you."
"Like me? What do you mean?" Hermione jumped on the defensive again and Draco sighed.
"Bloody hell, you're hard work! That was a compliment. I meant I'm sure you're not the sort of girl that jumps into bed with just anyone," he shrugged. "We're both adults and we just have to get through this."
Hermione nodded, not trusting herself to speak. He was being reasonable, in his own sort of way so she could at least try and stop jumping down his throat.
''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
Hermione bit her lip nervously and wondered if this horrible, nerve stretching feeling would ever leave her now? She was waiting for Draco in her usual cafe. After their initial meeting yesterday they had agreed to meet here to discuss their wedding plans. She felt about as enthusiastic as a doormat but she knew it had to be done. She'd also made a promise to herself not to lose her temper or snap at Draco no matter how irritating he might be.
She saw him walk past the window and then noticed that he was with a girl. She looked about their age and she was smiling up at Draco, her hand resting on his arm. Hermione felt her resolve to not let him irritate her dissolve because if he thought she was going to allow him to bring his latest tart along to their meeting then he could think again. She was about to march outside and tell him exactly this when she realized he was removing the girls hand from his arm and entering the cafe alone. She tried to pin a smile on her face but his first words told her she had failed.
"What's the matter? You look like you're about to murder someone?" Draco asked, looking around.
"What? No! I'm fine."
Draco took the chair opposite her and looked at her closely. "No, you're lying again. You're definitely mad about something."
Hermione felt her anger melt as she looked at him, staring intently at her. He looked even better today, his hair was messed up and he wore a small, light jacket but still a scarf and gloves. He looked tall, slim and gorgeously handsome. There were plenty of downsides to having to marry Malfoy, too numerous to mention actually but nevertheless she'd be lying if she said his looks weren't a bonus. If only he could have a personality transplant...Hermione stopped her train of thought and re-focused. Far more importantly he hadn't brought the clingy girl in with him and he had obviously had no intention to. Before she could stop herself she confessed the truth.
"I thought you were bringing that girl to our meeting," she said.
Draco's face showed his surprise and then he smirked. "Oh! It was me you wanted to murder?"
"No. I was just mad when I thought you were bringing her with you," Hermione mumbled a bit, wishing she hadn't confessed.
"Well, I don't blame for being mad if you thought that was what I was going to do," he paused. "But I do blame you for thinking I would do it! You really do have a low opinion of me, don't you?"
"Let's not argue, I promised myself I wouldn't do that today," Hermione tried to convey an apology but she couldn't actually bring herself to say one. "Let's discuss the wedding."
Draco sat back in his chair, surveying her intently. She thought for a moment he was going to continue their disagreement but after a minute he sat forward again and spoke.
"Right. So do you want Malfoy style or Granger style?" he asked.
"Let me guess – Malfoy style is the whole thing, lavish, expensive, hundreds of guests, a huge marquee? Granger style, well that would be the opposite, inexpensive, a handful of guests and no party. Am I right?"
"Spot on." Draco smirked at her again.
"You do realize that I probably have more money than you do now?" Hermione raised her eyebrows at him.
Draco grinned. "Oh yes! Hermione Granger, friend of the boy who lived, defeater of the Dark Lord, general heroine and now a famous and rich author! Wow! I feel honoured to be in your presence!"
Hermione put her mug down with a bang and opened her mouth to protest when she realized he was still grinning at her. "You're joking, aren't you?" she asked and he nodded.
"Of course I am! Having said that I'm still richer than you."
"Let's compare bank balances after we're married," Hermione said, sarcastically.
"So which is it then?" Draco asked. "Malfoy or Granger?"
"Definitely Granger," Hermione said. "No guests, just you and me."
Draco looked surprised. "Really? Are you sure? What about Potter and the ginger clan?"
"No. No-one just us." Hermione repeated and suddenly Draco stood up and moved seats so that he was right next to her. She caught a waft of his cologne and tried not to sniff because he smelt lovely, all fresh and clean. His leg was touching hers and she felt uncomfortable but she didn't dare move. She was holding herself rigid and she had to remind herself to breathe.
"Granger," Draco said and she tried to seem casual and natural. "I know this isn't how you imagined your wedding day would be but maybe you'd feel better if you had friends there. You might even enjoy it."
"I don't think so!" Hermione said then realized that she sounded really rude. "Sorry, but I just can't imagine anything making me enjoy the day."
"What about your parents?"
Hermione blinked rapidly a few times. "I haven't told them."
Draco's lips formed a line and he frowned. "I see."
"What are you saying it like that for?" Hermione asked.
"Well, you haven't told them because of the situation we have all been placed in or because it's me you're marrying?"
Hermione wished that Draco was a little less quick witted than he was because his quick assessment of the situation unnerved her a little. "A bit of both," she confessed. His face hardened and Hermione tried to sooth the situation. "It's just that I spent 7 years going home to my parents moaning about you! How are they going to take the news that I now have to marry you and have your child?"
"Not my problem," Draco's answer was blunt and she could tell he didn't like the fact she was so reluctant to tell her parents about him. "So, it will just be us then."
"You can invite people if you want to," Hermione offered.
"No, I don't have anyone I want to invite." Draco looked back at her again. "Hold on, do we need a best man?"
"No, just two witnesses. Anyone will do."
"Right. I'll book everything tomorrow." Draco stood abruptly and Hermione stared up at him. She didn't want them to leave each other like this, they had to at least try to get along. Things had seemed to be going well at first but suddenly Draco was back to his old self. Standoffish and blunt to the point of being rude. She searched for something to say to stop him leaving but couldn't think of anything. Instead she looked down at the table because for some inexplicable reason she felt a little tearful. This was all so difficult and she just wanted it all to go away. She realized that he hadn't moved away and she lifted her head to find him staring at her. He spoke quietly and slowly. "It will be okay. You just need to be a Gryffindor for a short time and it will all be over."
Hermione frowned at him puzzled. "How can it be over in a short time? What do you mean?"
"Just trust me, okay?" And before Hermione could question him any further he was gone.
Ooh! Mystery! What does Draco mean? Why does he think it will all be over quickly? Of course I'm not going to tell you that yet! Hee hee! The power of the author! Only joking. Hope you are enjoying this so far. I don't usually like marriage law fics because they are generally unrealistic and as anyone who has read my other stories will know, I like a slow build up to anything remotely romatic. However after a marriage law fic was suggested to me I thought I'd give it a go because it is at least quite a different story line to my other stories. I wanted there to be a good reason for the marriage and hopefully I've thought of one. Anyway - a little review would be great. Fortune got over 1000 review which is totally incredible and thanks to everyone who reviewed it. x
