"So how do you propose we go about our part in all of this?" Hermione asked later that evening when they had finally made it back to the Manor, she shivered slightly in the chilly air of the dining room. Kildy had all but screeched with joy at their return and promised an elaborate dinner. The elf was growing on her, Hermione mused as she watched the little bonnet clad elf dash away.
Hermione and Draco had been tasked with implanting themselves deeper in the pit if they could to learn the location of the snake. In the meantime, Hermione herself had recommended they work to gather a stock of healing potions from within as well to prepare themselves for the final battle.
Digging themselves deeper into the ranks of the Death Eaters wasn't something Hermione felt all that confident doing especially given her disguise and the ruse she had to keep. She wasn't ashamed to admit that she was counting on Draco for most of it.
"A thought did occur to me." He answered her question, somewhat hesitantly, not meeting her eyes. His demeanor made her narrow her eyes in apprehension.
"What?" She asked hesitantly.
Draco sighed and drug a hand through his hair before meeting her eyes. "As I'm sure you know, the Dark Lord is somewhat obsessive about purebloods." He spoke as though he thought she would bite which would have otherwise been amusing.
"Yes?"
"Well, over the years one thing that my… colleagues.. have found to gain favor with Voldemort is to make a- well a match. A productive match." He added.
The confusion was only growing with his words and Hermione huffed slightly, wishing he would just get to the point. Sensing her annoyance, Draco sighed, "The Dark Lord appreciates the effort to grow the pureblood population."
Finally, his words evidently had their desired meaning understood as Hermione's eyes widened. "Grow the population? Like with children?"
He finally met her eyes but she couldn't read anything in them as he inclined his head slightly in agreement. "That is generally how you grow the population."
She let out a burst of laughter and he looked up at her sharply. "If you are seriously proposing that we have children together just to get Voldemort to like us more, you are bloody insane."
He glared at her, feeling quite insane at the thought of even being in a situation to make such children with her. "No. Obviously not. I'm saying we act the part when we are down there and in other social settings. You've already been portrayed as a pureblood from one of the French families so the match between us would not be unusual. Most already know that you are living in the Manor and any announcements wouldn't exactly be unexpected."
She gaped at him. Draco Malfoy was standing in front of her proposing that they act as a couple intending to procreate. She huffed, hating that she could see the logic in his words.
"I also know that the ideal of marriage before children is held quite highly down in the pit." Draco nodded. "So how do you propose we handle that?"
Draco shrugged but she thought she saw a slight twitch of his lips. "Well we could get just get married and solve it all together."
Her surprise earlier was nothing compared to what she felt now. Draco would have laughed at the look on her face if he hadn't been feeling similarly. He was suggesting marriage to none other than Hermione Granger, or Olivia Raniere actually. Marriage was not taken lightly within the pureblood population, and it made him slightly sick to think about it.
He had been considering the idea for a few weeks now, even more so after the kiss they had shared only days prior. One couldn't deny that they had chemistry, though for most of their lives it was displayed through hatred. They worked well together, read the other's movements and actions when they were in the cave. If getting higher standing within Voldemort's ranks was the goal, this was a sure way to do it.
"You're serious?" Hermione asked, finally closing her mouth and recovering from her shock. "You are truly suggesting that we get married in order to gain favor from Voldemort?"
"No, not truly get married. Just go through the pretense of it for appearance purpose. It's not like it would be legally binding since I'd be married your alter ego and not you. As soon as this is over, we'd both be released as Olivia doesn't actually exist."
She considered this for a moment, going over the technicalities in her mind. The suggestion was beginning to make more and more sense and was becoming harder to deny. She had seen several pregnant witches during her times in the cave and could tell by the more luxurious appearance of their clothing that they were indeed treated favor. It was odd to think of people even bringing children into this environment in the first place, especially just to boost Voldemort's followers.
She remembered what Draco had told her when they had first met those weeks ago, how he didn't have a choice in his allegiance given his upbringing. Those poor children being brought in under the rule of Voldemort wouldn't have the chance to know anything else unless the Order succeeded.
Finally, she spoke again, resigned. "So what would being married get us?"
Draco glanced up at her in surprise. He hadn't even expected her to consider the suggestion, which is why he didn't bring it up earlier while they were both surrounded by order members. He would have been murdered on the spot at the suggestion of their princess being married off to a Death Eater.
"You haven't been around long enough to see it, but the marriage between Death Eaters is more than just a ceremony. It's viewed as a divine act, bringing together two people who could be responsible for the continuation of a pure blood line. There truly is no greater act of service for the Dark Lord."
"But how would it allow us to accomplish our tasks?" Hermione replied more urgently. She understood the logistics of marriage and didn't need them explain as they only made her stomach churn.
"Well for one it would give us more freedom. I'm sure you've noticed that we haven't left the Manor much." She nodded. "Members of the inner circle are monitored, closely. For some reason he is paranoid that his followers are sneaking off to affiliate themselves with those of un-pure status. Once you're married that is no longer a consideration and your leash is lengthened."
She nodded, if they had more freedom to move about then they would have the opportunity to leave England to site out the locations the order had in mind for their plan. They would be able to gather materials and ingredients more easily without any suspicion. She had to admit, the idea was growing in merit.
"How would it work? The marriage portion, I mean."
Draco gestured for her to sit at the table opposite him, like they were negotiating a contract. She followed suit and sat, folding her hands in front of her. The wind whipped branches of trees against the windowpanes and she could almost smell the scent of rain as it hung in the air around them. A perfect night for selling her soul, she thought.
"There'd be a ceremony," Draco began, thankful that she hadn't blown his head off at the suggestion. "Nothing like what muggles have and it involves binding magic. I've researched it extensively and the binding is more tied to the names so once Olivia is not needed anymore, the contact will be void."
"You've done research?" Hermione asked, narrowing her brows at him.
He nodded, fully expecting this line of inquisition from her. "Yes. I've been thinking about the progression of our ruse for the past month. At some point we were going to have to shift the status quo and this is a way to accomplish that."
The thoughts racing through her head were deafening and she stared at him. He had been looking into this since the beginning and hadn't thought to share it with her. She wasn't upset about it exactly, more shocked that he would even consider tying himself to her in any way.
The echo of the kiss that they had shared made its way into her mind. The thought of kissing him again was surprising but not necessarily unappealing. He was a different person from what he had been in school, and she found that he matched her on an intelligence level, something that Ron never had. His actions in the garden at the Parkinson's had shown that he was protective of her, cared in some way about her. The kiss afterwards confirmed that.
She knew it wouldn't go anywhere. They were not meant to be together in any semblance of the word, but if pretending to be married got them closer to their goal then she was willing to do it.
"And so we'd be married." She said simply, bringing herself back to the situation at hand.
Draco nodded and watched her. The progression of thoughts that had gone through her mind had been evident on her face, almost a show in and of itself. While he had had time to come to terms with the idea, her handling of the suggestion was admirable.
"Yes. We'd be married. It wouldn't change anything in our interaction with each other up here, but we would have to keep up appearances down there. That's something you need to be comfortable with."
Hermione's eyes narrowed and she pursed her lips. "I'm not going to fuck you in the shadows if that is what you're implying Malfoy."
He smirked at her and let out a chuckle. It hadn't been what he was implying, though he couldn't deny that the thought of Granger's lithe body against his wasn't exactly off-putting. But he flicked the thoughts away. "Obviously not, Granger. But you'd have to be comfortable with my presence down there. You've seen that those people are not exactly shy about the sexuality and connections between one another, we would be expected to do the same."
"And what exactly would that include? What are your expectations when it comes to a wife?" The bite in her tone was distinct and he tilted his head at her.
"Granger, you would be my wife in name alone, less than that given it's not even your name. I don't like this any more than you do. Don't act like I'm forcing you into this either. If you decide that you're not comfortable with this, then we won't do it. It's only a suggestion."
The words made her feel temporarily guilty. Deep in her mind there was a thought that he could be doing this on purpose to get to her. He was a Death Eater, she told herself, but he was also someone risking their life to help her and the Order defeat Voldemort.
"I never said I wouldn't do it." She replied softly, meeting his eyes full on. "I just need to know what is expected of me?"
His grey eyes held hers for a moment before Draco nodded. Ever the devoted student, he thought, always needing to know how they'll be graded.
"We'd need to be close when we are down there. How close is something we can decide on later. I'm not going to put you in a situation where you feel uncomfortable, though I also need to know you're not going to compromise our position if we do this?"
Of course he would think she would, Hermione thought. He had been a tyrant in her life, but obviously she had already proven to him that she could handle being close to him.
"It won't be a problem." She said simply.
At this moment Kildy arrived back in the dining room, bringing with her a floating parade of steaming dishes which were promptly laid on the table. It was enough for a large dinner party and Hermione immediately felt guilty about the elf's hard work going to waste with it just being the two of them.
They ate in silence, occasionally going over minute details of the arrangement and how they would need to present it to Voldemort and the Death Eaters. It was nerve wracking knowing that they were about to take a step that could propel them down the pit even further, put them in more danger if they were to be found out.
At least before if Hermione's identity were revealed it wasn't a direct shot at Draco too given their distant connection. The same could be said vice-versa if something were to happen to Draco it wouldn't be directly tied back to Hermione. If they were married, they would be linked. Draco explained about a couple who had both been killed simply for the actions of the wife.
When dinner was over, Hermione leaned back as the dishes were magically cleared form the table. There was still one more thing.
"We can't tell the order." She said, her voice calm but firm.
Draco looked up at her in surprise but then nodded. Of course she wouldn't want to tell her friends that she was marrying him, it would be viewed as almost a betrayal.
"Of course." He said simply, nodding.
"They would kill you," Hermione continued, not really acknowledging his agreement. "It's one thing for me to work with you in this but to get married to you—"
"I get it." He said, interrupting her causing her to look up sharply at him. "Obviously my friends will know, though with their knowledge of our… situation, they should understand the purpose of it."
Hermione nodded and tucked her hair behind her ears. His friends would know. That means Pansy and that means that one of the biggest mouths of the entire wizarding community is not only privy to Hermione's secret, but also now to the sham marriage that they were entering into.
"Will they be alright with it?" Hermione asked.
Draco nodded without even needing to think. "Yes. They aren't as, well bigoted towards the Order as your friends are towards Death Eaters. The knowledge itself will not be an issue, especially when it's explained that it isn't binding."
The quip at her friends didn't go unnoticed but Hermione brushed it away as she nodded.
"Okay. So we're getting married. When?"
Draco let out a breath as if he had still been waiting for her to finally grasp what they were talking about and explode.
"By the end of the week. I'm not sure when we will be summoned next but it'll likely be tomorrow. We can make the announcement then. Voldemort isn't exactly one for patience so the ceremony will likely be performed by Saturday."
She nodded, running through all of the details in her mind. It seemed silly but she had always pictured what her wedding would be like, and something told her that a Death Eater ceremony is not what she had pictured.
After another few moments she stood, pushing back her chair against the silvery carpet. "Alright. I think I'll go read for a bit, wrap my head around things."
He nodded and she left, feeling the slight tremor in her hands at the prospect of being married in four days.
He entered the library much later that night, the harsh rain against the side of the window loud in the room as he strode across to the wingback chair Hermione was curled up in. The book in front of her was one he recognized of wizard children tales and he tilted his head at it.
Hermione looked up as he approached, the soft glow of the lamp beside her illuminated his features. He stopped a few feet from her and shuffled his feet, toying with something in his pants pocket.
"What is it?" Hermione asked, seeing odd nervousness.
Draco took a deep breath and pulled something out of his pocket. "It's a ring." He held up the small circle and in the slight gleam of the lamplight she could see the sparkle of emerald and diamond stones set in the silver metal. "A family heirloom, but I thought it would do well for the situation."
She didn't move, simply stared at him. When he finally cleared his throat, the glaze across her eyes cleared and she blinked several times.
"Sorry. Um, yes, very practical."
He chuckled at her words and took a step forward, reaching down to take her left hand in his. Her fingers were slim and graceful as he slid the ring over them. It fit perfectly without any adjustment needed, something he furrowed his brows at.
Hermione pulled her hand out of his grasp and stared down at the ring. "It's lovely." It really was, she thought as she admired the ring. The rectangular diamond was surrounded by a line of emeralds that glowed deep green in the light. It was a vintage design, something she would have expected her grandmother to have worn. But she found she liked it, even if it were in Slytherin colors.
"It was my great-grandmother's." Draco said casually as he also stared down at the ring on her hand. "We can charm the rings you have for the disguise to be silver so they can act as a wedding band when you're down there."
Hermione nodded and they both fell silent. Finally, she tucked her hand back in the spine of the book she was reading and looked up at him. "Thank you, it really is beautiful. I'm make sure to take care of it."
He nodded, though he was looking down at her with an odd expression on his face. Something about it made her want to pull him into a hug, to hold him and find the comfort that they both desperately needed. But she refrained herself. The marriage and their professional relationship needed to stay as separate as possible.
As if thinking the same thoughts, Draco straitened his back. "Well goodnight. Be ready tomorrow."
She nodded and watched as he left the room. As soon as he was gone, she held her hand out again. There was no shame in admiring the beautiful ring, even if she only was going to wear it until they defeated Voldemort.
Draco was right; Voldemort did summon them the next day. The cave was just as cold and damp as Hermione remembered it being and she pulled the black jacket around her, thankful that Olivia's hair was long enough to warm her neck.
They walked through the crowd together towards their place at the front, Draco breaking away from Hermione to go and whisper something in Voldemort's ear. The smile that slid across the snake-like face made Hermione's stomach go cold as his red eyes flicked to find her.
"My friends!" He called out, looking over the crowd with an odd sense of glee. Draco stepped away respectfully but kept close to his master. "There has been some exciting news, another pure match has been made."
It was an odd way to phrase it, Hermione thought briefly as several shocked gasps and excited cried went up around them. The pureblood population really must be dwindling for them to react this way. She looked over at Draco and saw him hold out a hand to her, gesturing her forward.
Taking a deep breath Hermione stepped out from her place among the crowd, making her way up the small steps to take her place at his side. Another round of shocked gasps reverted throughout the room at her appearance and Hermione held her head up, gripping Draco's hand tightly in her own.
"Healer." Voldemort prompted, standing from his own chair to stand in front of the pretend couple. Hermione felt her heart begin to race at the nearness of him and pulled up every barrier she could muster within her mind.
There was a slight slippery feel as she felt him slide into her thoughts, mulling over the memories of Draco presenting the ring that she had pushed towards the front of her mind. He slid over the memory of her admiring the ring before pulling back.
Once he was out, Voldemort looked at her intently with his red eyes before leaning forward and pressing his thin, cold lips to her forehead. "You are most welcome." He said quietly before pulling away.
If she hadn't had Draco's hand gripped bone-breakingly tight in her own, she likely would have apparated away in fear. Never before had she been this close to Voldemort, let alone been touched by him. Her hands twitched to rip out her wand and kill him on the spot, but she knew it wouldn't work.
A few grunts sounded from the crowd as someone pushed past the throng of people to the front. If Voldemort's close presence wasn't enough to do her in, the sight of the crazy, curly, black hair would have. Bellatrix LeStrange all but skipped up to the platform to approach the trio.
Her lips were pursed tightly together as she reached out and snatched Hermione's left hand up, roughly fingering the ring that was nestled on her finger. Her gaze was angry when she turned it to Draco.
"Grandmother's ring. And what makes you so worthy that you feel you can hand out family heirlooms, Draco?"
Her tone was light but the edge beneath it was not lost on anyone. Draco glared back at her, having no patience for his aunt's pettiness, especially not around Hermione.
"It was given to me to give to my future wife. And that it what I have done with it." He replied, his voice as hard as steel. He knew she coveted the Black family heirlooms, thinking she had higher claim to them than the last surviving male of the blood line.
"She's not one of us, Draco." Bellatrix hissed, not bothering to hide her words from Hermione whose hand was still gripped tightly between Bellatrix's bony fingers. Hermione winced at the pressure and pulled her hand away.
"Exactly." Draco said sharply, slipping his arm around Hermione's waist and pulling her close to him. It felt safer being next to him and Hermione met Bellatrix's eyes with a look of defiance. She had to play her part, but standing up to the woman who had tortured her was something Hermione reveled in.
"We're getting married in four days, I suggest you come to terms with it before then, Aunt." Draco said coldly before effectively turning away from the witch and pulling Hermione off the dais with him. They could both feel the daggers that Bellatrix was throwing at them with her gaze even as they reached the back edge of the gathers. Voldemort had started to speak again but none of the words registered in Hermione ears.
Seeing that his aunt was still staring at them, in a swift movement, Draco turned to face Hermione. His grey eyes met hers briefly and his hand brushed along her cheek before he lowered his head to her, covering her lips with his in a gesture that surprised Hermione. She responded immediately, having promised to uphold their ruse to the best of her ability.
The kiss was urgent and deep, Draco's hands gripped her waist tightly as he pressed against her. She knew it was for the benefit of his aunt, but Hermione let herself lean against him, bringing her hands to either side of his head to pull him lips closer to her.
The pulled apart and Hermione took a moment to catch her break. Electricity seemed to spark from where her fingers had contact with his neck and she let out a shaky breath as her eyes met his. He didn't look at her long, turning his hard gaze back to Bellatrix who simply quirked at eyebrow at him.
It was done, Hermione thought as she tucked herself close to Draco's side, her lips still tingling.