AN: Thank you to everyone for the positive comments. I appreciate you taking the time to write your review.
Again, I am a published author (please take a moment to check out the info in my profile) but my main guy is David, not Harry. Enjoy!
"Hermione, enter." Edward Granger called from his study. Hermione passed Draco leaving as she entered the room and shut the door. Her father's study was painted with a dark emerald green. Dark hard wood floors and furniture accented the walls. Two windows brightened the room. Bookshelves lined the walls filled with textbooks. Edward sat behind his desk, staring out the window. His hands were clasped in front of him, resting on his lap. Hermione stood at the edge of the desk near the windows.
"Is this a smart match?" Edward asked after a few moments of silence. He was still looking out the window.
"I believe it is." Hermione hated to lie to her father. Draco's promise would solve her family's financial strife. Aside from that, she could only hope to be happy in this marriage.
"Do you love him," Edward turned towards his daughter. Hermione met her father's brown eyes. His life had been devoted to his only child. She knew he only wanted the best for her.
"Yes, I do." Hermione could feel her heart constricting in her chest as she spoke. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She dimly thought the curciatus curse could not feel worse. Edward stood and walked around his desk to his daughter, enveloping her in a tight embrace.
"That is all I wanted to know." Hermione returned her father's hug. The two walked out of the office, finding Draco waiting in the hall. For a brief moment, Hermione thought for sure he almost looked worried.
"I trust everything is in order," Draco asked. Edward nodded at Draco. "Excellent. Shall we plan for the wedding a week from tomorrow?" Both Edward and Hermione stared wide eyed at Draco.
"That is awfully quick." Edward commented.
"I see no reason to extend the engagement, do you?" Draco asked. Neither Hermione or her father could think of a reasonable reason. "Well then, shall we go over the wedding details Hermione? Perhaps over a cup of tea?" Hermione agreed and the two bid her father goodbye.
Hermione led Draco out to the patio, telling the maid to bring tea along the way. The afternoon sun warmed the patio enough for the two to sit comfortably outside. Once the tea and cups had been placed on the table, the maid scurried back into the house. Hermione looked around before casting a shield spell around the two. Even if her mother was nearby, she wouldn't hear any of their conversation.
"Alright, Mr. Malfoy, what are you playing at?" She asked as she poured the tea.
"My dear Miss Granger, I have no idea what you are referring to," Draco leaned back in his seat, slowly sipping his tea.
"This whole situation," Hermione's nails were digging into her hands. "I cannot understand what you have to gain from this marriage. I do not understand why you even asked me to marry you. This whole situation is unbelievable." Hermione sat back into her chair in a huff.
"What is unbelievable is the fact you actually said yes to my proposal."
"I said yes to help out my father. He does not deserve the backlash my supposed crime inflicted. You provided a solution to my problem."
"Let us speak plainly then. I plan to put forth my efforts into making this marriage for all purposes look real. I expect you to do the same. This is not a marriage of convenience for me."
"Agreed Mal-, Draco." Draco smiled and set his teacup down.
"Thank you, Hermione. Now what would you like at your wedding" Hermione dropped the shield spell and the two talked for over an hour planning out the details of their wedding. At three in the afternoon, the maid came out and interrupted their conversation.
"Pardon me miss," the maid bobbed a quick curtsey. "But there is a Mr. Ronald Weasley here to see you."
"Dear Merlin," Hermione said shaking her head. "Send him in, Lynore." The maid bobbed again and disappeared into the house.
"What could he want?" Draco asked as he cast a warming charm on his cold tea.
"I have no idea. He will not be happy when he discovers who I am engaged to. Would you agree to take a turn around the garden?" Draco sighed as he rolled his eyes. He pulled out his chair and gave Hermione a curt nod before disappearing behind the side of the house. She watched him walk away, not hearing Ronald come towards her.
"Hermione," Ronald nodded towards her, drawing her attention. Hermione nodded in return but did not stand up.
"To what do I owe this pleasure, Ronald?"
"I have figured out a solution to your problem." A smile plastered across his face. "Marry me."
"What did you say?" Hermione blinked several times, trying to shake the fog in her mind.
"If we get married it will salvage your reputation." His eyes lit up as he spoke. "Marry me?" Hermione could have sworn she heard laughter in the distance.
"Ronald, I appreciate your gesture and proposal but I am afraid I have to decline." Ronald walked around and kneeled down next to her seat.
"If this concerns your pride, do not worry."
"It is not my pride. Another has already come to the same conclusion and asked for my hand." Ronald smiled as he stood again.
"Ah, Harry has already come to the quick. Smart man."
"It was not Harry," she cut him off. Ronald had a puzzled look on his face for a moment.
"Then who could have proposed?"
"We went to the same school, Ronald. I know more gentlemen than just you and Harry."
"So who proposed?"
"I did," Draco walked around the corner of the house. Standing in the sunlight made his blonde hair glow. His broad shoulders looked strong and intimidating. He was a few inches taller than Ronald but his posture made him tower over him. Ronald stood back aghast, his hands flexing close.
"Hermione, would you care to explain what the hell is going on?" Ronald said through clenched teeth.
"Ronald! Your language." Hermione chided.
"What is there to explain?" Draco spoke in a calm voice, which appeared to aggravate Ronald even more. "I proposed and she accepted."
"Understand Malfoy, I do not know what you are playing at but I will discover what is going on." Hermione stood up from her chair and stood in between Ronald and Draco.
"Ronald, please," Hermione begged, her palms down.
"Are you under a curse?" Ronald asked, stepping forward to inspect her.
"Do you really believe I would put her under a curse?" Draco asked. "Believe me, Mr. Weasley, I do not need to use a spell for Hermione to marry me." Ronald's eyes flashed red. He swiftly pulled out his wand from his side jacket pocket and pointed it at Draco and Hermione. As Ronald was pulling out his wand, Draco grabbed Hermione's wrist and pulled her behind him, retrieving his own wand in the process. The two men stared at one another with their wands raised for a few moments.
"You must have done something to Hermione," Ronald said. "There is no other reason she would agree to such a marriage with the likes of you."
"I did do something to Hermione," he replied with an evil smile. "Much more than you could do." Ronald's eyes flash red again as he cast a hex at Draco. He deflected it easily and did no more. Ronald was visibly shaking where he stood. Hermione shook out of her shock and stepped in front of Draco, pulling his outstretched wand arm down. Draco let her gentle touch bring his arm to his side, his cold eyes never leaving Ronald.
"You should leave now," Hermione said to Ronald. Her eyes were wide with shock at his behavior. Ronald and Draco were never close during their years at Hogwarts but she never thought Ronald could attack anyone. Ronald briefly looked at Hermione before he apparated away.
Hermione released a deep breath she didn't realize she was holding. She heard Draco also take in a deep breath as he put his wand back into his pocket. Turning around, she saw him rake his fingers through his platinum hair. She should have been angry with him for the argument. His protectiveness towards her when Ronald pulled his wand seemed to be tempering that anger.
"I must take my leave," Draco said. He quickly gave Hermione a kiss on her hand before apparating away leaving Hermione to wonder about his sudden disappearance.