09/18/2014

Title: Out of Hand II: A Matter of Time

Author: relativelypositive

Rating: M

Category: AU/Romance/Humor

Summary: The Wizengamot is messing with Hermione's life. What does a girl have to do to be allowed to fall in love? 6th Year AU. Dramione.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Harry Potter related and I make no money from the use of the characters created by J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 1

"Can you even imagine what would happen if Death Eaters started using guns?"

"Would that be admitting that muggles do something better than wizards? Wouldn't that be against everything they stand for?"

"Would it matter if it helped kill inferior people more expediently?"

"Yes, yes, muggles kill people very efficiently. Congratulations. It's still a muggle method."

Hermione and Little Weasley were debating what would happen if the full story of the death of the Dark Lord were to come to light.

Draco and Harry were sitting, quietly taking in all the possibilities, and the solutions the witches were considering.

Greg was lying in the hospital bed between them, still not having woken up from his ordeal at the hands of the Dark Lord and Bellatrix. Madam Pomfrey did not seem worried, so the students assumed it was just a matter of time.

"Why do it quickly when torturing them with your own magic is so much more satisfying?"

"Jeez, Ginny!"

"What? Can you deny that's what they'd think? I agree that guns should stay out of the picture, but given the option I think most Death Eaters would stick with the old spells and hexes. They are incredibly effective, you know."

"Yes, but in fifteen minutes we took out Death Eater Number One and the Supreme Death Eater. You can't argue with those results."

Draco, while attentive to the important conversation, was contemplating Potter. Bloke wasn't that bad. Unfortunately, he usually came in a set with Weasley. Ron, that is.

Until this week he'd assumed Hermione and Harry had one of those unfortunate relationships where you weren't your best friend's best friend. Harry was Hermione's best friend, but Ron was Harry's best friend.

Now? Draco wondered if time and maturity had affected the relationships. Harry was still constantly trying to include Ron in their plans and discussions, and Hermione kept shooting him down. No pun intended. Harry was just in the habit of spending all his time with Ron. Was he now realizing that Hermione was a better friend? A more worthwhile person?

Maybe that was just Draco's supposition. His disdain for Weasley was deep. It stemmed from what his father always said about the Weasleys, what he had witnessed over the years, and the fact that Potter had spurned his own offer of friendship for Weasley's.

And the little shit wanted to sneak in and fuck Draco's fiancée.

Ultimately, the people that surrounded Hermione were tolerable. Potter was turning out to be a worthwhile acquaintance. He actually liked the twins, and Little Weasley held her own.

Ron could rot. Arsehole.

"Draco? Do you agree?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you agree?"

"To what?"

Hermione gave him an exasperated look that he often saw on her face when she conversed with Weasley. He vowed never to make her use it on him again.

"You'll have to speak to your mother and Professor Snape about keeping the guns a secret. We can't tell anyone."

"Shacklebolt knows."

"Harry's going to talk to him today, as well as Tonks. Ginny's going to owl the twins that she wants a meeting. We just need your mother and Professor Snape to agree to never tell a soul."

"You're asking me to force my mother and Snape to make an Unbreakable Vow of silence?"

Hermione smiled at him. "Excellent idea. I wish I'd thought of it."

"I wasn't suggesting it! It's ludicrous! They'd never go for it!"

"We'll just have to argue our case. They'll see the implications of this information getting out."

"You think you'll be able to argue my mother and Snape into submission? That's a laugh."

Hermione looked insulted. "Of course not. That's your job."

"Well, getting my mother into a room with me at this point will be a battle. Did you see how she dismissed us after Snape left with Greg?"

"Her sister just died, Draco. Was she supposed to coddle you?"

"That's not the point. We're still engaged. I'm still being disowned. What possible reason could she have to see me now?"

Blaise breezed through the door, winked lewdly at Ginny Weasley, and grabbed Greg's leg in a light squeeze, yelling, "You're missing all the fun, you lazy git!"

When he got no response but an evil look from Madam Pomfrey, he turned to Draco and said, "Your mommy's here."

Draco's head whipped to the doorway, and Blaise laughed. "In the castle, idiot! She's meeting with Dumbledore. You might as well head up there. You know it has something to do with you."

Draco looked to Hermione and she raised an eyebrow in response. Draco stood and automatically grabbed Hermione's hand. When had this become a habit?

He noticed Harry give Blaise a jealous look (Over the wink at Weasley? Interesting.), then glanced at his non-responsive friend, Greg. He supposed their impromptu vigil wasn't really helping him anyway.

"I'll hang here with Potter and Weasley," Blaise said with a shark of a smile.

Blaise was going to mess with Potter? Draco was sad he'd have to miss it.

XXXXXXXXXX

Hermione was trying to keep the smile from her face. She knew it was there, at least a little quirk to her lips. She was trying her best not to look smug, but Draco was holding her hand, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Students were gawking at them. Hermione didn't care. She was happy.

Hermione had never had a boyfriend. She'd barely had any contact with boys, other than Harry and Ron. Maybe that was why she was finding this simple gesture overwhelmingly romantic.

Hermione wasn't in love. At least she didn't think she was. She liked Draco, surprisingly much. She was disappointed, though, that most of what she liked about him was superficial. She liked to kiss him. He was nice to look at. He made her feel wanted, and that was a nice change for Hermione.

He had jumped into this engagement with both feet, putting a lot of trust in her and her friends. If the situation were reversed, she doubted she'd have run off with a bunch of Slytherins, even if it were for her own protection.

Deep down, she still didn't want to get married. Not for the next twenty years or so.

What would it be like in two days when they started classes again? Would everything revert to normal? Would he still be holding her hand?

They were almost to the Headmaster's office when the dread started to set in. Draco's mother saw Hermione as the end of the Malfoy family. Hermione was looking forward to being free of her, even though she knew Draco would be dealing with this for years to come.

Draco's family was kind of awful.

His father was in Azkaban awaiting trial for kidnapping, imprisonment and a slew of other offenses. That morning's Daily Prophet had reported his arrest, but with dis-satisfyingly few details. No one yet knew who was being held in the Malfoy dungeon, or how long they had been there.

(When Hermione had asked Draco if he had any idea he had given her a cold look. "I have never known the dungeon to be used." That was the end of that discussion.)

Draco's mother was passive-aggressive to the point of cruelty. She was a snob with an out-of-control sense of entitlement.

They were both going to spend the rest of their lives pretending Draco, their only child and doted-upon heir, had never existed.

So why was the woman here? Hermione highly doubted it was to welcome her into the family.

XXXXXXXXXX

"How fortuitous. Please join us." Dumbledore didn't look surprised that Hermione and Draco had shown up at his door. Maybe they were becoming predictable.

Draco saw his mother, stiff posture and haughty demeanor as always, and felt oddly comforted.

Draco and Hermione took the seats farthest from his mother. It wasn't on purpose, but Draco saw her frown deepen and felt guilty.

She hadn't greeted him with her customary barely-there smile, so he wasn't going to greet her with his adoring-but-hiding-it nod.

Their relationship was irrevocably changed.

"Mrs. Malfoy has just informed me that the Wizengamot is reinstating the Courtship Mandates. Are you aware of what that entails?"

Draco looked at Hermione in alarm, and she looked back at him in confusion. Of course she didn't know about archaic laws. She didn't even know about current courtship etiquette that had been affecting her life for years.

"No," Hermione admitted.

Dumbledore continued, "Well then, let's get to the important, immediate decisions we must make. We have three choices. First, Hermione could transfer to Beauxbatons. Second, Draco could transfer to Durmstrang. Third, Hermione could have a chaperone, while both students remain at Hogwarts."

"Why do I need a chaperone?" Hermione's eyes narrowed at the Headmaster, clearly not liking her options.

"Because you are the female." Draco's mother stated, as though that were a stupid question.

"So?" Hermione countered eloquently.

"It is the way it is done."

"So?"

"There must be no further signs of impropriety before the…the wedding."

"We're already engaged. Don't you think that train has left the station?"

"We are looking to the future! Do you want to be known as the hussy that seduced my son into an unwanted marriage?"

"We could tell everyone the truth."

Draco's mother gasped in shock. "You wouldn't dare! Oh, I wish you would choose to leave. You have no sense of shame! To tell everyone that you…no! Unacceptable!"

"Neither of us is going anywhere. And adding a chaperone wouldn't help this situation!"

"Nevertheless, the Courtship Mandates state that you two may never be alone together until you are married. Hence, the…lady…gets the chaperone."

"Why not make Draco have the chaperone? He's the one with the penis! That's where all the danger is!"

"Miss Granger! That is wholly inappropriate! My son would never—"

Draco wondered if he should step in. Dumbledore was worthless as a referee. He just sat there watching the fireworks with an amused smile.

"This is all ridiculous. It's been published in the Prophet that it was an accident. A mistake."

"You seem to think this is a debate. It is decided. The Wizengamot has spoken. You, as well as the other engaged young women at Hogwarts, will each have a chaperone."

"No."

"You haven't a choice, you obstinate girl! Did you think there would be no consequences to your actions? Did you think you'd cavort around the castle without supervision, having relations at your leisure?"

"I thought I'd go back to class, my prefect duties, my friends, and maybe date your son. You're aware that we barely know each other?"

"I'm aware that you and my son disappeared from the hospital wing in the middle of the night, and did not turn up again until breakfast. If you think that bringing an heir into the world will get you the Malfoy fortunes, you are mistaken."

Draco blushed. His mother knew he and Hermione were alone last night? They'd pretty much just made out and slept, but his mother didn't know that.

Hermione ignored his mother's accusation.

Was this a tactic? Was Hermione becoming more Slytherin? Draco was proud.

"I will not cooperate. I will not be babysat. As an adult, I will make my own choices," Hermione said calmly, as though that was the end of the discussion.

"Miss Granger," Dumbledore finally stepped in. "If you'd like to continue your education at Hogwarts, you will consent. But, in the nature of fairness, I will make sure the boys have chaperones as well."

Draco felt his heart sink into his stomach.

"When?" Draco asked. He knew in situations like this is was best to just conform.

"I dare say they will be here tomorrow."

"Look on the bright side, Draco," his mother bent enough to try to comfort him, "it's only until the wedding. This will all be over in June."

Draco felt his magic begin to rush. He was reacting to Hermione's extreme reaction to his mother's words.

"What do you mean, June?"

"Draco turns seventeen on June 5th. I will plan the wedding festivities for that week."

"First of all, you are not planning my wedding—"

"No, I am planning my son's wedding."

"Am I not disowned?" interrupted Draco.

His mother gave him a quelling look. "With your father and the Dark Lord out of the picture for the time being, and with the current favor your fiancée has with the media, I cannot distance myself from your nuptials. Am I happy? No. Am I resigned? Yes."

"No. Absolutely not." Hermione was starting to panic.

"You will not have time to plan this wedding during the school year."

"I will not be getting married at the end of the school year, either."

"When exactly do you think this will happen? When you decide it is time? You will not delay. At all. Draco's reputation would be irrevocably damaged. It would impact his working relationships as well as personal relationships in society. I will not let it happen."

"Try to make me," Hermione challenged.

Draco cleared his throat, trying to get her attention, while his mother answered her indirectly, but with relish.

"Headmaster, am I correct in thinking that the Courtship Mandates apply to this situation?"

Draco knew they did, and it made him sick to his stomach. The "aggrieved" family had all the power. He didn't want to force Hermione to marry him before she was ready, but his mother was in a better position.

"Indeed, Mrs. Malfoy. Hermione," Professor Dumbledore continued in a softer voice, "you must comply, or be sent to Azkaban. Now, within your rights as the bride, you can take control of any and all wedding planning—"

"She will not!" Draco's mother thundered, then quickly got herself under control. Draco was stunned. He had never heard his mother raise her voice in anger. And was she blushing? Draco had never seen that before, either.

So that's where he got it.

Everyone was quiet for a few minutes, thinking over their situations and deciding their next moves. Draco watched Hermione, wishing he could hear what she was thinking.

He didn't want her to think she was being forced to marry him…even though she was. He wanted her to want him as her husband. And to want to get married. Soon.

"I will agree on three conditions," Hermione started slowly, then took a deep breath, released it, and gave Draco's mother a penetrating stare. "One, my parents get to participate in the planning every step of the way."

Draco saw his mother's eye twitch.

"Two, you, Professor Snape, and Professor Dumbledore make an Unbreakable Vow to never speak or write of the events that happened yesterday to anyone, even amongst yourselves."

Draco's mother's lips thinned. Hermione gave Draco an apologetic look before returning her hard gaze back to his mother.

"And three, you do not pressure me to have children, ever."

Draco held his breath. Hermione was outwardly calm, but he could tell she was a hurricane inside.

"How about this?" Draco's mother stood and straightened her robes. She acted for all the world like no one else was in the room. She continued in a clipped tone, while donning her cloak and patting down her perfect hair. "You will receive a summons. You will show up when I tell you to, where I tell you to. You will wear what I tell you to. You will participate in the bonding ceremony. You will provide Draco with an heir a year or so later. You will not interfere with his business dealings. If you do not comply, I will have you imprisoned. If you have any doubt I can make that happen, ask the Headmaster. I do so love the old laws, don't you?"

Hermione stood and squared herself to Draco's mother, stepping into her personal space so the older woman could no longer pretend Hermione wasn't there. Draco watched in awe and apprehension.

"You did this!" she accused, her anger working its way to the surface. "You want to control our lives! You used your clout and your connections to reinstate outmoded laws!"

Draco saw the ghost of a smile reach his mother's lips.

"Oh, yes. Yes, I did."

A/N:

We meet again.

If you haven't read Out of Hand, you're probably quite confused right now. Go read that one first.

Everyone else, welcome back! I have a vague idea where this one goes, but we'll see. I didn't think I was going to include Voldemort in the last one and look where my brain went! So. Unpredictable, romantic, and hopefully fun. Those are my goals.