CHAPTER 11

It was the evening of 21st of August and Hermione was still waiting for an owl by the Ministry which would be carrying Draco's petition for marriage. Yesterday only Draco had informed her that she would get it by the morning but she was yet to receive it. It was only the sound of padded footsteps entering the library that distracted her enough to actually turn towards the intruder. Well, she couldn't exactly call the man an intruder since it was his house only. Sirius Black had just walked in and sat down in a seat opposite Hermione.

"Still didn't get the petition?" he asked. The little frown marring her face was answer enough. "I don't think they intend on sending it, Hermione." he continued. "I'm beginning to think so too." "Don't worry your pretty, little mind about it. Draco and Dumbledore will take care of it. All you need to worry about is your beauty. Narcissa will throw a fit if you don't look good on your wedding day." He joked but the slight twinkle in his eyes made her think he was thinking of something. Perhaps related to Narcissa only. At Hermione's raised eyebrow, he said "I was 15 when Cissa got married. Though James was not invited to the wedding, he snuck in and the two of us did... well let's just say Lucius looks really pretty in a pink. It suits him." And Hermione started laughing.

Sirius and Hermione had gotten along fairly well. It was a surprise to everyone for who would have thought that notorious, troublesome Sirius would even spend his time on intelligent, bookworm Granger. But that was the thing. She was so like Remus, Sirius' best friend. Sirius was a well-read man and though he had never showed it, there was no denying the fact that he was very intelligent. But it was his ability to make people laugh that earned him a friendship with Hermione. He was not the kind who would console her, hold her hand and tell her everything would be all right. That was Ginny, Ron and Harry's job. Neither was he to smother her and fuss over her, that was Molly's job. He never stopped her from going on an adventure or gave her advice for Remus was doing a good job at that. He was just her personal entertainer who would sometimes sit with her and have debates or make her laugh when she was down. That was all he did.

Their conversation was interrupted when Ron came looking for Hermione. Sirius left the two alone in the library with Ron occupying the seat Sirius had just emptied. " Malfoy and you are to go to the Ministry tomorrow. He will file another petition for you and make you sign it then and there only." "I suppose it's a good idea." Hermione replied and the two fell into a comfortable silence. It was after a few minutes that Ron spoke again, "I wish things were different, Hermione. I wish I could do something about it." "We all do Ron but it's not your fault." "But if I were not... If you could marry me... You would still be with us. You would still be family." "And I won't be your family if I marry Draco?" "No no Hermione. I don't mean that." Hermione knew what Ron meant. He meant that she would be a Weasley. Family by relation. Mrs Weasley had always wanted Hermione to marry one of her sons... Ron to be exact... Anybody and everybody knew that. But obviously that could not happen. "I am not ready. I don't want to be married." Hermione had always confided in Ginny before. But after Ron had told her about his sexual orientation, Ron had been the one for confiding. "But Draco is... He is just there... He doesn't have to marry me but he is doing it for me... I owe him Ron... You know what I mean... He is just..." "I know. He is just there for you. He is that support right now. I know what you mean. Even I was shocked when Malfoy offered to marry you. Everybody was... but he hasn't backed out yet so I can't complain. I guess what I'm trying to say is if you are not marrying me, I'm glad it's Malfoy." "Thanks Ron." Hermione said lightly squeezing his hand. He just smiled in return and said, "Come on. Let's head down for dinner. Mum will have our head otherwise."

It was a little after 11 in the morning and Hermione found herself sitting beside Malfoy, his arm around her, filing a petition for marriage. On arriving Malfoy, being Malfoy, had created an uproar and shouted at the people for supposedly having 'lost' his petition in transaction. Kingsley had come from the Auror department and apologised profusely on behalf of the Ministry and told them another one will be issued immediately. It had all been a plan of the Order, making sure that Draco be issued a new form before he and Hermione were forced to sit for hours and became a victim of the system. Hence, the Head of the Auror department was 'coincidently' on the floor of the Marriage Department at the same moment as Draco Malfoy was on a tirade about incompetent people of the Ministry.

As Hermione sat there, with a quill in her hand and the form of her marriage in her hands, the thought of giving up and running away ran through her mind. It wouldn't be too hard for her to give up her magic, right? She was definitely wrong for as she looked up and saw inter-departmental memos flying around, she knew that she could never give up on magic. It was her world. It was her joy. It had finally ensured that she belonged somewhere. So, with all her Gryffindor courage, she picked up the quill and signed on the parchment. Hermione Granger had finally signed on the petition. Her signature lay write below Draco Malfoy's. And that was it. She was to marry the man in less than a week.