Disclaimer's Notice: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters featuring in the books or the films. They belong to J.K Rowling and her wonderful mind. Only the plot is mine so venture into it if you dare…

Chapter 11

"Good afternoon Minister" said Malfoy.

"Hello my boy! Good journey I trust? Can I offer you anything? Tea? Coffee? Or perhaps something stronger?" asked Fudge heartily.

"No Sir, I'm fine, thank you" said Malfoy standing to attention with his hands behind his back.

"At ease my boy, at ease. Here, have a seat" replied Fudge gesturing towards an armchair on the opposite side of his desk.

Malfoy took the cue and sat down smartly, hands folded in his lap and his gaze locked on the Minister. They talked about meaningless things for a while; the Minister asked after Hermione and the upcoming wedding. Gossip was exchanged, international relations were discussed, the usual conversation that men have together when no women are present. After a while there came a natural pause as the two men pondered what they had conversed about. The Minister was looking at Malfoy in a new light; he was proud and strong, yet courteous and humble at the same time. There was certainly not a trace of arrogance that was so common in the Malfoys nor did their trademark sneer come up once during their small talk. He decided that this Malfoy was a lot better than the one he used to deal with a long time ago. Fudge, had been quite young when he was made Minister compared to the other candidates. However, after a series of mistakes and misjudgements, he had become a truly wise and powerful Minister. He carried the burden well and it didn't show one bit, in fact, the only thing that had really changed about him was the increased number of lines in the corners of his eyes and the creases in his brow from hours of continuous concentration and negotiation. After the pause the Minister placed his hands on the table and sighed looking at Malfoy. Draco's eyebrows knitted as he couldn't place the Minister's expression as anger, grief or exasperation.

"Mr. Malfoy, I'm afraid that I have some bad news."

"What is it? Is it something to do with the Order, is it Hermione?"

"Calm down son, it's nothing serious. I had an owl from your father yesterday. You have my word that it will stay a secret but there is something that I need to know from you right now."

"Yes? What is it?"

"Is Ms Granger pregnant with your child?"

The question came as a shock to Malfoy. How did the Minister know? Did his father know and if so why did it concern anyone else but the two of them? His unborn child was definitely his and the heir to his name, fortune, legacy and estate. His answer was simple:

"Yes. But how did you know?"

"Ahh, well, you see Mr Malfoy, when I received the invitation for your wedding I was naturally thrilled for you but something that I had read in one of you field commander's reports about an attack made over three months ago, by your squad I might add, nudged my memory and my curiosity. Being the Minister for Magic I have certain privileges that I exercised, I hope that you are not offended."

"Not at all Sir!"

"Yes, well, I asked to see the report, it was the attack made on the last band of Death Eaters that you participated in and you were hit by a potent spell created by a certain Death Eater named Seth. I trust that you remember his name, in Azkaban now, lifeless, soulless but certainly not dead. I got in touch with Healer Morden who I believe supervised your treatment at St. Mungo's. He told me about the 'care-meter' in your system and the attempts to heal the unknown curse. It shocked me and I was concerned for the wellbeing of you and your fiancé. If I am not mistaken, which I'm sure I'm not, I believe that Healer Morden gave you a definite life-span of a maximum of 5 years before your heart deteriorated beyond functioning. Well, this also, greatly concerned me as you are one of the finest that we have on the force and to lose you would be an irreplaceable loss." The Minister paused for thought. After a pause and a quick sip of water he continued.

"I decided that I would not trouble you with my concern as you had enough to worry about as it is. I don't suppose that you've told Ms Granger have you?" Malfoy shook his head. "Hmm…I thought as much. Oh well, Mr Malfoy senior owled me a few weeks ago informing me of your engagement. He asked me to intervene based on the ancient law of pure-blood marriage."

Malfoy frowned; he hadn't heard of the law and didn't know anything about it. As far as he knew he was entitled to marry anyone of his choosing as long as they weren't a squib and Hermione certainly wasn't that. He cleared his mind of all thoughts and inclined his head towards the minister for him to continue.

"Am I right to believe that you have never heard of this law?"

Malfoy nodded in agreement still baffled by his lack of knowledge of something that evidently seemed important. If it wasn't then he wouldn't be sitting in the Minister for Magic's office discussing it.

"This law known as the 'Cruor Infidel Law', old fashioned it may be was set down by the founding fathers and mothers of the wizarding community. It states that a man from a minimum of six generations of pure-blood lineage is allowed to marry any witch he chooses and vice versa. Now, if I'm correct you have fourteen generations of pure-blood lineage which connects to the Blacks, the Weasleys and the Bones. Therefore, seeing as all three lines are directly connected through your mother, being a Black, and your father's sister-in-law, being a Weasley, each of the sons are liberated in this line of life. Now, seeing as each of your ancestors married a woman from a pure-blood family, the law has never needed to be mentioned or taken notice of until now. You Mr Malfoy have chosen to marry a Muggle born witch who has no pure-blood lineage. Therefore the law applies; it further states that if a pure-blood son of a minimum of six generations of pure-blood weds a daughter of no pure-blood lineage then the marriage is made redundant unless a 'Cruor Encryption Potion' is brewed containing the blood of the pure-blood son. When drunk, the drinker will be genetically encrypted with the DNA code of the pureblood family that her husband is from. Your original code is modified in the potion which makes the drinker your genetic first cousin. Therefore, there would be no problem of inheritance and name as she would become part of your family and also be branded with the fourteen generations of pure-blood lineage that runs through your veins. This may seem strange as marrying one's cousin is not a practise that people indulge in these days but it will not seem strange to any wizarding family as they are all related either by blood or by marriage. Pure-blood families would not exist today if inter- family marriage was frowned upon. Are you with me so far? Good; now, listen carefully. Seeing as you have been given till you twenty-sixth birthday to live, if and when you die, your future wife, being Ms Granger, will have nothing of your inheritance, estate or your name unless this potion is brewed and given to her before you say your vows or Lucius Malfoy will object on your wedding day; if that happens then you will lose her as the council of pure-bloods will not allow your union to occur. They will slay whoever they need to, protecting their heritage is their only concern and she is a threat to all they fight for and have sworn to protect."

"Where does my baby come into all of this?"

"The reason I brought up your unborn child is that if Hermione gives birth out of wedlock without taking the 'Cruor Encryption Potion' the council will kill the baby along with the 'disgrace' that bore it into the world; therefore meaning that you would not only lose your wife, but your child as well. Lucius doesn't know of the potion yet, if he did he would alert the council and they would take immediate action and destroy the threat. I also know for a fact that he is divided in his choice to tell them; he won't say a word because if he did, it would make him lose face; seeing as he's the head of the oldest pure-blood family in the entire magical community he wouldn't want that to happen. He might tell them just to get you out of spite for joining the ministry and draw you back into the evil world that he intended you to join."

He paused allowing Malfoy to take in all the information. He was angry and scared at the same time. The thought of losing Hermione was more than he could bear as she was his entire world and existence. He knew that he lived only to hold her again. The Minister was watching Malfoy's every expression and when he had decided that the pause was long enough he went on.

"The reason that I've summoned you here today is to make sure that you brew the potion containing your blood and give it to Hermione before tonight. If not she will die. There is a team of potion-masters in the next room awaiting the final ingredient, your blood. The rest is done, the potion has been brewed and once your blood has been added, it will need to be drunk within the next 36 hours…roughly a day and a half. Once we have given the potion to you all evidence will be destroyed, the potion-masters' memories will be modified and there will be no more talk of this ever again. The Ministry has taken an awfully large risk by helping you; do not make our risk in vain."

With that the Minister rose from the chair and snapped his fingers. A small portrait of a crucible swung forward and revealed another narrow stone passage that no doubt led to the potions room. Malfoy shook the Minister's hand and nodded. He was speechless; all the information was swimming around in his head as he headed towards the entrance. As he was about to enter the Minister's gaze followed him across the room. He had three words left to utter:

"God speed, Malfoy."

Upon entering the potions room Malfoy saw three men standing in various positions around the room. One man stood by the cauldron constantly stirring, one held two small vials and another held a syringe along with a large test tube ready for use. The man with the syringe and the test tube walked over towards him and motioned for him to sit on a stool near the cauldron. Placing the test tube in a holder on the table he motioned for Malfoy to roll up his left sleeve. Doing so he held his forearm out ready to have his blood taken. The potions-master removed the cap from the syringe needle and rubbed some antiseptic on a spot just above the crook of Malfoy's elbow. He inserted the needle into his arm and began to draw out the blood.

As Malfoy watched the body of the syringe fill with his blood he thought about Hermione and what would have happened if his father hadn't contacted Fudge with his 'concern', or as Malfoy liked to think, his threat. He was grateful in a way to his father for indirectly saving his future wife and child from a most probable gruesome death. Before he knew it the potions-master had removed the needle and placed a plaster on the puncture. He filled the test tube with blood and walked over to where the cauldron was. Pouring the contents of the test tube into the potion a huge cloud of purple smoke billowed from the liquid as the blood fused with the other ingredients. 'Purple for Royalty' though Malfoy ironically as he saw the cloud. In a flash the fumes were sucked back into the depths from when it came and the potion turned a crystal clear, ice blue colour that resembled the clear ocean waters of Thailand. A ladle was dipped into the mixture and carefully poured into the two small crystal vials that the second man was holding. They were corked and given to Malfoy who carefully placed them inside his cloak pocket. He pressed his hand against his breast to make sure they were safe. The man who was stirring the cauldron stopped and walked over to him. In a deep resounding voice he told Malfoy that the drinker had to drink the contents of one entire vial and the other one was a spare in case something went wrong. He bowed low and then went back to the workbench where the potion stood. Pouring the contents into the fire as well as the cauldron itself, syringe and the test tube he watched them burn before heading towards the door that Malfoy had entered from. They were obviously headed towards the Minister's office to have their memories modified. As they filed out the man with the deep voice turned towards Malfoy.

"That fireplace is discreetly connected to the Floo Network. The place of departure is untraceable so you will be able to leave in safety. There is a pot of Floo Powder on the mantle piece, good luck and remember she has to drink the entire contents of one vial."

With that he was gone and Malfoy headed towards the fireplace. Grabbing a handful he placed his hand over his pocket to secure the vials. He shouted his destination and as the flames turned green he took and deep breath and stepped inside headed for home and Hermione…