Chapter 11
In the end, Lisa decided that she could not marry Theo Nott. Being shackled to someone who had been consistently nasty for years just didn't appeal, particularly as Lisa suspected that Nott was a chauvinistic pig to boot. Hermione was really proud of her, she didn't know Lisa well, but she respected her decision. So many girls would have been fooled by Nott's big house and wealth.
They owled a note over with Lisa's decision and returned their attention to more important matters. Hermione had been researching wards. She was worried that some of Hogwarts defences were failing, particularly the ones she didn't know about.
She got the library to herself these days. She actually wondered if she should bring her bed here and make this her room, but a library should be available to everyone and now that Lupin had started classes, there was the occasional kid in here.
Someone was approaching as she put heavy tome back on a shelf. She felt her arm being yanked back as she was turned to face Draco Malfoy.
"Not really approving of the touching, Malfoy." She said.
"She said no."
"I am aware."
"Well, she can't."
Hermione snorted. "Actually she can. Other people's decisions actually do matter, you know."
"We need her to union with Nott." He said. "She doesn't have to marry him if she doesn't want to."
"I think her decision is final." Hermione said.
"You have to convince her." He said and stroked his hand through his hair.
Hermione wasn't sure, but Malfoy seemed a bit rattled.
"I'm sorry, but she doesn't want to 'union' with Nott. Apparently he's been a prick to her for quite a while, so what did he expect?"
"She should be honoured by his proposal."
"I'm sure she was." Hermione said with obvious derision.
"Its not like she is going to get a better offer." He said as he noticed her ridicule. "The world might have changed, but we still have the property, the land and prospects."
"Maybe there are people who view prospects differently." Hermione said through her teeth. "Maybe putting up with your sunny personalities isn't worth whatever it is you offer."
He watched her for a while. "Such insipid sentiments aren't important. We are trying to rescue this society and stupid little sentimentalities are irrelevant."
"I wouldn't call putting up with an arsehole like Nott as stupid little sentimentalities." Hermione said, not quite believing he was so dismissive, but she guessed she shouldn't be surprised.
"We need her to union with Nott."
"She said no. I'm taking you are having a bit of trouble with that notion, it means its not going to happen."
Malfoy shifted on his feet, he was angry.
"Nott should ask one of the Slytherin girls, they would fall over themselves from what I understand." She said. "That is what they're for." Hermione hated saying it, but it was the typical belief amongst the Slytherin girls, that they were for marrying wealthy Slytherins to lead a life of pampering, bitchiness and leisure.
Malfoy put his hands on his hips and looked down. "We can't…" He started. "We can't get our girls… pregnant."
Hermione felt queasiness cringe through her. "I don't want to hear about this."
"We can get the muggle girls pregnant at a drop of a hat, but we can't get our own girls pregnant."
"I really don't want to hear this." Hermione said and shot her hands up to cover her ears. She did not want to hear about the Slytherins' sex life. "That is disgusting, you are abusing those girls."
"Oh trust me, they are more than willing." He said pulling her hands away from her ears. "We can barely keep them off us."
"Go brag to your own cronies, I really don't care." She said and yanked her wrist out of his grip. "And don't touch me."
"We can't get our girls pregnant." He said in serious tone.
"Well…" Hermione said. "You've been inbreeding for centuries, its not really a surprise. Your numbers have been shrinking for a while, even before this thing happened."
"We can't let our lines die." Malfoy said. "That is not an option."
"Well, you have muggle girls who you say are happy to help out." She said with a desire to dry retch. Hermione was still very much a virgin and she felt uncomfortable having this conversation with Draco Malfoy of all people. She would blush profusely whenever Ginny mentioned it, talking about sex with Draco Malfoy was about as far out of her comfort zone as she could get.
"We don't want muggle girls." He said.
"Your actions seem to indicate otherwise." Hermione said. "Lisa is out, she doesn't want you and she is much more concerned about her own future happiness than the preservation of your family lines. And rightfully so."
"No, not right. It is her duty to preserve this society."
"No, its your duty." Hermione said. "So go do some nasty stuff with a muggle and leave her alone."
"We can't allow ourselves to breed the magic out of our families." He said in all seriousness.
She was about to say that a union with a muggle might not result in that, but considering how damaged their genetic code was, the muggle partner's code was probably much stronger.
"Then keep trying, there are other girls who would probably be more receptive." Hermione said. "Try the more conservative Ravenclaws."
"More conservative Ravenclaws are pureblood and effectively close relations." He said. "We need half bloods or worse."
"Worse, huh?" Hermione said. He really had the finesse of a bull in a china store. She should have been offended, but the ridiculousness of the situation just made it funny. "Maybe you need to work on your approach."
"You might think this is a joking matter, Granger."
"It kind of is as far as I'm concerned."
"We need new blood."
"Funny you should mention blood." She said with more seriousness. "You've been so allergic to it up until now."
"Needs must."
"If only you hadn't done so much damage to your chances before. Ah, what a shame."
"Don't get too smug Granger, we'll be coming for you."
Hermione snorted as he turned to leave. Like she would ever, ever, ever consider it. Yuck. It was just the most ridiculous concept. Although it did bring up a serious question about her future, something she hadn't really thought about. She was so caught up in getting through the day, she hadn't had time to think about the future.
Ron was definitely not in her future vision any more. The fact that he was now going at it hot and heavy with Pansy was just the thing that made it a complete impossibility. She'd never even considered that he would be into Pansy enough in a million years to be with her in the way he was. It gave her the creeps. The whole idea of sex gave her the creeps.
Although both Harry and Ginny had also evolved their relationship in that way too and the Slytherins were apparently doing it with anyone who'd let them. It was like some madness that had just taken root and spread.
Lisa Turpin disappeared a few days later. No one saw what happened, she hadn't been in the fields as far as anyone would tell. The last anyone had seen her, she was on her way up to the Ravenclaw common room.
"The fucking Slytherins took her." Ron said.
Hermione couldn't argue, her conversation with Malfoy did make it likely that they had.
"We can't put up with this." Harry said. "We can't have them stealing girls as they see fit. That is not the society we want. Every girl is school would be terrified if we let this stand."
Pansy was obviously not looking like she agreed with every girl in school objecting to being stolen by the Slytherins and Hermione suspected that there was some truth to that, but that was completely irrelevant.
"You take us over there now, Hermione." Harry warned. "I don't care about your concept of diplomacy, we cannot let this stand. And we cannot just desert Lisa."
"I wasn't going to argue Harry, it hurt that would think I would." She said. "I will have to take you though one by one."
"We will have to be quick." Harry said. "I'll go first. We will be as quiet as possible until we have enough numbers to confront them.
Hermione and Harry stepped into the fireplace and cast the powder. They whizzed away and then bounced off a hard surface to end up back at Hogwarts.
"They've blocked me." Hermione said. "He's rescinded my access."
"I guess they knew we were coming." Harry said. "Bastards. We have to find another way."
"His wards are world class, Harry. We can't get in."
Harry picked up a chair and threw it. "Fucking bastard."
"I will go talk to Lupin." Hermione said. "We will figure out something, Harry."
She was pretty sure Harry didn't believe her, she didn't really believe herself. This was bad, bad, bad. Not only were they fighting the werewolves, they were going to war with the Slytherins as well. Lupin was going to be so disappointed in her. She hated being stuck in this position, being appointed the diplomat in a situation that clearly was beyond diplomacy. But she had a feeling that Lupin was too rigid in his thinking to steer another course.
And worst of all was that Malfoy had indicated that they had plans for her as well. Well, she would put up one hell of a fight if they even thought of sneaking up on her.