Draco Malfoy walked down the street, checking his watch to see if he was late. It was only two thirty-five and he was on his way to have drinks with Theo Nott at The Black Cat. It was a bar just outside the city center that had killer fire whiskey and an even better happy hour.

As he walked, he considered all the questions still rushing through his mind from the meeting he'd had with the Minister a few days ago. He couldn't believe the audacity of the Wizengamot.

A Marriage Law from the dark ages sounded like something his father and all his dumb little friends would come up with, not the current wizards and witches he knew sat upon the high court since the war was over. When he'd owled Theo about it, Theo had informed him that, sadly, he already knew.

When he got inside the bar it appeared to be quite empty, but Draco knew it wouldn't be long before people would be out of work. Fridays always inspired a heavy crowd. He found Theo in a corner, a drink already in his hand.

When Draco walked up Theo handed him another glass from off the bar and smiled. "Hello Draco."

"Theo," Draco said, taking the glass and having a sip. The hot liquid went down his throat quickly and he welcomed the delicate taste.

"Aye mate, how are you?" the weariness leaked out of Theo's mouth then.

"Alright, given the circumstances... how's the Healer life treating you lately?" It had only been a week since they last saw each other and while they both knew why they were meeting up, their upbringings held their courtesies in place, even now.

Theo rolled his eyes. "It would be great if I'd actually been doing much healing. I told you I already knew about this preposterous decree, but it's because I'm one of the ones working on it instead of doing my real job," Theo explained.

"Sorry I didn't tell you or Blaise or anyone, it wasn't my choice really and they asked for discretion. I've been so busy..."

Draco sighed. "Ah, discretion," his voice was snide as he shot Theo a look of understanding. They'd heard that before from the Ministry, specifically concerning their own trials. Needless to say, there wasn't much discretion then.

Theo only nodded. "Yeah, they've been good about it this time. You know, if I'd have known being Head of Potions would have demanded so much from me, I wouldn't have taken the position."

"Now that's a lie," Draco corrected, knowing Theo all too well. It wasn't until after the war that his best friend's talents emerged, but Draco knew he loved what he did. If only Draco had the knack for something as noble; he had been fairly good at potions, but not that good. He sighed before shaking away the thought and taking a sip of his drink.

"Fine, it is," Theo said reluctantly. "But that doesn't mean making this whole goblet thing isn't absolutely ridiculous. I should be back at St Mungos..."

Draco wanted to laugh at the whole ordeal. He had when Kingsley told him about the Goblet of Unity and the details of the law, but it still sounded so absurd. Did they even consider the chaos the law could bring?

It was common knowledge there were still families that didn't accept that Voldemort had lost; Draco couldn't be the only one reading about the disappearances of muggleborns that kept creeping into the Daily Prophet, even now after the war was over for some years. It made him sick, the guilt still lingering even after he'd survived his trial and begun to make amends.

This law would certainly upset those families and the people responsible for the disappearances. It might even increase those disappearances, increase violence. He sighed. As much as he didn't want to believe this was happening, here was one of his best friends confirming it. He couldn't doubt the twinge of fear that crept up his spine just then.

Draco swirled the ice in his glass. "The Joining Ceremony: A Marriage Law Celebration, Kingsley called it," Draco gave a short, empty laugh. "Sponsored by none other than Malfoy Enterprise and Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Incorporated. What a bloody event."

"Merlin, that is a mouthful. I can't believe the Minister wanted your company to sponsor it. He's really trying to get participation from everyone of importance, that's for sure," said Theo, draining his glass.

"Makes sense, when you consider the Wizengamot is just trying to ensure magical bloodlines stay intact and all…" Theo raised his eyebrows, his voice overwhelmingly sarcastic.

Draco rolled his eyes, as unconvinced as Theo. He leaned over the bar, searching for the bartender to order them another round. "So that's what they're calling it these days, aye? When we were still on the dark side of things, Voldemort had another name for wanting to 'ensure magical bloodlines' and people hated that," the disgust in his voice evident.

"Yeah, but Voldy's plan didn't include the muggleborns and half-bloods," Theo reminded him. "At least everyone's in the same boat here."

"It's still wrong, even with the inclusion," Draco said, as the bartender finally came over. He set two more glasses down in front of them and Draco laid down a few gold coins. The bartender smiled as he walked away, the large tip Draco left not going unnoticed.

"Obviously, but the law is binding once it's cast and it's long since been cast," Theo stated. "We don't have a choice and we're probably still going to get shit, being who we are. We've changed a lot since the war but..."

"But it's not like everyone believes that," Draco finished for him, playing with the empty glass in his hand.

"So you see the consequences like I do," Theo said, a statement more than a question. "I've said so much to the rest of the lot working on this too; at least they agree."

It was some time before Draco ventured to speak. While he and his few friends knew they were making the best efforts they could to make amends, showing they'd changed, not everyone believed they had. And that was a scary fact if they were about to be married off to witches who didn't believe them.

This was a slippery slope on both ends; changed purebloods worried about being married to untrusting muggleborns, and fearful muggleborns forced to marry traditional purebloods. A recipe for disaster.

"Oh yes, I see the consequences," Draco sighed again. "I see a lot of buried anger, distress, and resentment ahead. Possibly violence if the wrong people are paired..." Draco said. Theo looked at him, eyes flashing with consideration.

There was silence between the men before Theo talked again. "But I guess it will come down to who we are paired with. I was instructed to use some of the more true aspects of Amortentia. We included them and the portions that include who you are attracted to, your values, what you look for in a match and the like." Draco nodded for him to continue.

"There's one or two other potions I'm still working on that Granger's been helping me sort through for magical compatibility. As bloody brilliant as she was in school that one, she's still stubborn as hell."

Draco gave a smirk. "Ah, Granger," he managed, realizing then that there was no way the Golden Trio wasn't involved. He thought about their encounter in the elevator and smiled.

Theo continued before Draco could share, "Lovegood, Potter, and Weasley have been working on the goblet too, much to Potter's annoyance. I think he's as eager as me to get on with his real job, and for good reason. All those muggleborns turning up missing or dead..." he looked at Draco seriously. Draco nodded.

"And then there's Macmillan, I think he's got it the toughest. He's in charge of making sure this bloody goblet works out at all. Combining all our charms and potions and spells and the like." It seemed he forgot about the rings completely. "And we're working on it at the Ministry so officials are always ensuring we can't tamper with it."

"That's a hell of a lot of people involved though," Draco realized. "But I'm not really surprised, I guess. They all specialize in something helpful to the cause, not to mention Kingsley would of course want the Golden Trio backing this whole thing."

"Exactly. The Ravenclaw Patil twin is editing the law, trying to amend it to include some fairness, making six of us total. Crazy last few weeks, but all of it together… well it should ensure we at least can have something in common with our future significant other," Theo explained. He sounded like he wanted to be more sure of himself.

Draco wasn't listening; his mind had wandered back to thinking about Hermione Granger. She seemed different when he saw her than she had years back in school, different from the broken memories he had of her during the war too. Maybe because he was finally not trying to figure a way to insult her and her friends, he was able to see her as a real person for once.

The war seemed to harden her a bit and he wondered if it was just a front. He wondered what she was like behind closed doors. If she still read books with the crazy eagerness of a child or was still doting after the youngest Weasley boy despite her less than thrilled comments about quidditch pitches and traveling.

She was still dangerously smart though, Theo said as much. He admired that a lot, always had, to the point of jealousy in school on several occasions. And, while she was a muggle-born, he wasn't sure cleverness would be enough to match them. It would take a lot more than just smarts and her aging into good looks for him to be ready for Hermione Granger to be his wife.

They'd had their differences, major differences for so long; he was bound to be paired with someone who wouldn't think of the past so much like she was bound to. The past didn't just disappear after a few exchanges during an elevator ride. He knew that much based on her clipped responses.

"The real question is this," Theo said, clapping Draco on the back without warning and bringing him back to the present, "will any muggle-born actually be compatible with the Draco Malfoy?" Theo laughed, trying to make them both feel better. He waved a hand for the bartender again. "Or maybe your sorry ass will just have to settle for a lovely halfblood."

Draco gave a timid smile, coming back to reality. He saw Theo had drained his second glass. Drinking the rest of his own, he looked up, "I don't know, but I'm sure that goblet of yours will find someone." Draco couldn't come up with any muggleborns that could tolerate him, now that he thought about it. "Hope I don't frighten her too much. This is going to be some adventure…"

When the bartender had placed two more glasses beside them, Theo turned back to hand Draco another drink. "Her. Good one," Theo stated, paying more attention to pronouns than his friend; Draco didn't realize at first. "Oh, it most certainly will be interesting."

"Shit mate, I'm sorry," Draco realized then. "What are you going to do? If the plans are to maintain magic bloodlines, they basically want to pair people to have children. Is this goblet going to accommodate people attracted to the same sex?" Draco asked seriously, feeling awful for not thinking it sooner.

Theo had managed to keep his sexuality hidden from his parents out of fear of disappointment; pureblood parents were more concerned with getting heirs to their name than anything. They would have been less than happy to hear he was more into his male friends than any of Mr. Greengrass's daughters his father kept bringing around.

Theo rolled his eyes and took a minute to look about the room. When he saw they were still pretty much alone, he gave Draco a sly smile. "Yeah about that. Seems no one has brought it up, despite the fact the more I talk with her the more I think Lovegood isn't as straight as they come either. Anyway, I've decided not to remove that aspect of Amortentia. Let's see how the Wizengamot deals with that at the Joining Ceremony," he laughed.

The look of astonishment on Draco's face said enough. He held his glass up to clink with Theo, showing his approval. "I see the Slytherin in you hasn't completely left," Draco said after taking a sip.

"But really Theo, have you thought at all about options they could force on you even if you get paired with another man? I mean, it's the Ministry we're talking about, they aren't going to let anyone slide through."

"Not really no," Theo was honest and he shrugged. "Let them deal with that when the time comes."

Draco shifted on his feet. "Well, I'm only thinking about if they find out what you did and they become unhappy because of it… you know, with the whole point to repopulate magic bloodlines, it really puts a damper on things if you can't have kids," he was trying to make this clear to Theo so he realized how serious a situation his friend might find himself in.

"True," Theo considered for the first time since coming up with his brilliant plan. "You think they'd force us to figure something out? Pair us with a surrogate or something?"

Draco weighed this option but it sounded like a lot of hassle. Instead, he considered something else. "Well, Malfoy Enterprise donates money and volunteers to plenty of charities,one in particular came across my desk last month that might be of service in this case. It's called Orphan Outreach, works to get homes for all the magical children that got displaced from the war." Theo looked at him curiously.

"Would you believe there's still loads of children that are living in boarding, not yet adopted or anything? Plus there's a sector of the program looking to find magical children that were placed into hiding by their parents who haven't been found or never got letters because Hogwarts was closed. Maybe we can use this as a means to appease the Wizengamot. Same sex couples adopt a magical child in 5 years' time or something of the like when they're ready for a family. It's a solution in some sense," Draco offered.

Theo took a long drink from his glass and then stared at his friend with steel blue eyes. He was contemplating Draco's seriousness in all of this. "That's not the worst idea I've ever heard," he finally said. "Except I really am not fond of children one bit."

Draco gave a chuckle. "Well, we'll give you an older kid then, one who's already past the shitty infant years." Theo smiled.

"You still surprise me with these little ventures you do now, you know that?" Theo said then. "Who knew you had a heart this whole time, what with that shitty tattoo and all."

Draco gave a small smile as he glanced at his forearm. Even with his jacket sleeve covering it, the old dark mark seemed to know it was being talked about. He could feel his magic just underneath it, pulsing when Theo had spoken of it, even after the connections had all been severed. It annoyed him to no end.

"Thanks Theo but let's not get all sappy," Draco straightened. "It's just a solution. And I think the actual tattoo was the least of my worries when you consider who it connected me to."

"What? Death eaters and Voldemort and your shitty father just a touch away?" Theo said, "Nah, sounds marvelous."

"Fuck that," Draco's wicked laugh was biting, "my father was more than a touch away, had the bruises and scars to prove that. And Voldemort and his cronies too, once they moved in."

"Ugh, I literally forget that all the time. I'm sorry I brought it up, Drake. Come, let's change the subject. It's morbid enough without bringing up the death brigade. This bloody new law," Theo said, looking around at the crowd beginning to gather around the other end of the bar. He checked his watch, seeing it was just past 4.

"Come on, let's get a table or something then. Early Dinner. We should eat before we drink ourselves into a stupor," Draco reasoned, draining his 3rd and with that, he left to grab a table in the back.

Hermione and Ginny sat at a table upon the sidewalk, surrounded by a lovely garden wall that enclosed all the patrons dining outside at the Black Cat. While it was a bar, its food proved to be phenomenal and Hermione found herself at peace for the first time in a long time. At least, as much peace as she could find.

Finishing off her second glass of wine, Ginny looked at her seriously. "A week. A week is all we have. We're going to be married off and we don't have any choice, and here we are sitting here drinking."

Hermione looked half like she wanted to cry, half like she wanted to laugh. The pressure of the week was collapsing on her; when she chose the latter, Ginny couldn't help but chuckle too. "I don't see the big deal Gin, I just can't wait to be Mrs. Marcus Flint. Hermione Flint, how lovely it sounds."

"Oh, you really think you're compatible?" Ginny managed, holding in a laugh. "I peg you as a Blaise girl myself."

Hermione's eyes got wide, "I think we need more wine."

"How about Mrs. Seamus Finnegan for me, eh?" Ginny laughed almost uncontrollably. "Could you imagine the mouth on those kids?!"

Hermione had to wipe her eyes. This was better than getting upset over it all, she reasoned, despite the anger still bubbling in the background of her mind. She pushed it away again. "Aye, now that would be a sight…"

"Anything is better than a Slytherin," Ginny frowned, trying to act serious again as she grabbed her glass only to remember it was empty. She put it down with a sigh. "You're right. We do need more wine," she said sadly.

"Ginny," Hermione tried, but she couldn't muster anything convincing.

"No it's fine, I'm sorry," Ginny said. "We were having a laugh and I turned it all serious again. I don't mean to keep doing that but… it's too real."

"I know," Hermione said, reaching across the table to place a hand on Ginny's arm. "I know. We just… we have to make the best of this. Slytherin husband or no."

"Yeah, but I couldn't stand having to come see you in some swanky palace of a house just to say hi. Not to mention if I'd even be allowed, shit," Ginny put her chin in her hand.

Hermione looked down. "That would be just awful," she realized. Ginny slammed a fist into the table. The witches at the table next to them glanced their way nervously. The waiter was equally as weary as he stopped to see if they needed anything. Hermione ordered more wine and waited for him to leave before speaking.

"Look Gin, this is exactly why the Wizengamot wants to do this," Hermione said at last. "Because stereotypes are still hanging around. Violence is still happening and well… they think it'll help repair the wounds that are still open."

"Yeah well, it's not like my mind is going to change when you force me to shack up with a snake. It can't bring my brother back from the dead," Ginny's voice was defensive and harsh, but Hermione knew she had every right to be.

"It won't," Hermione told her. "All the loss won't just go away. All the hurt doesn't dissipate this easily. I don't really know what the Wizengamot was thinking…

"

"I don't know if I can do this, Hermione. I really don't know. We've joked about it, sure, but in a week when we're all standing there in front of this goblet, what's going to happen? How calm is anyone going to be?" Ginny stated, her voice harsh with irritation.

Hermione sighed, unable to come up with anything comforting to say. She bit her lip. Ginny spoke again in her silence. "It just keeps biting us in the arse!"

"Because it is vile, simply vile," Hermione's voice got quite loud all of sudden, her irritation coming back to her. But before Ginny could respond, someone interrupted her.

"Please tell me you aren't talking about me now, are you Granger?" Draco smirked as he leaned over her shoulder.

A rosy blush sprang to life on Hermione's cheeks, no thanks to the wine. Ginny blinked in disbelief. Behind Hermione, Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott had just waltzed up like they were entering some party. She eyed them both with contempt.

"I- " Hermione tried but before she could formulate her words properly, Theo cut her off.

"Ah, they're speechless in our presence, Draco, they were definitely not talking ill about us," Theo said, his voice smooth and light as he approached the side of the table. Draco stood at Theo's side. The smile that twisted his lips up was something wicked; Hermione watched him with suspicion.

Ginny sneered. "We aren't speechless you snake, just annoyed. Not really enjoying our meal being interrupted like this. What do you want?"

"Oh nothing, we already ate, thanks. Just enjoying some drinks," Theo stated calmly, shaking the ice in his glass. "Just like you, I see." Theo eyed the empty wine glasses. "Hermione, how are you holding up?"

Hermione welcomed his kindness. When they first were told they'd be working together, the tension was evident. Neither wanted to get to the point of being friends. But it didn't take them very long to realize they hated the law for much of the same reasons; soon, old grievances fell and, for that, they had both been grateful. She gave a weak smile.

"I'm okay, thank you for asking… one week, you know, and it's really been putting things in perspective," she said sighing, before realizing what she was saying.

Her eyes got wide as she looked from Malfoy to Nott and back again. Did Malfoy know about the law, she thought furiously, had Nott told him everything or was he about to find out because of her stupid big mouth?!

When Draco saw her panic, he chuckled. "Calm down Granger, I'm well aware of the ceremony and all, unfortunately. You'll be interested to hear that it is the Ceremony that the Minister wanted my company to sponsor. Go figure."

Ginny exchanged a nervous look with Hermione. "A sponsor? You're kidding!" exclaimed Ginny. "Why you?"

"The Minister is trying to make it seem like we are all on the same side, all supportive of this. He's ensured all the most important people are represented," Hermione explained easily, but the irritation underlying her words did not go unnoticed.

"Are you saying we're important now," Draco said, nudging Theo. "How sweet."

Hermione narrowed her gaze at him, but it was Ginny who spoke. "Don't act like your name hasn't been worth ten thousand galleons since the day you were born Malfoy," she sneered. At that, both boys laughed.

"I don't know if it's worth that much anymore, what with the circumstances of the war and all," Draco reasoned, "Malfoy Enterprise, however, is doing quite marvelously."

Theo smacked him. "But Granger's right, it makes perfect sense why he chose Malfoy Enterprise. And your brother's company for that matter. What better for the Minister than having both the good and the bad come together over this stupid law?"

"Stupid is right," Ginny said without hesitation.

"Look at that, we all agree on something Weasley," Draco raised his glass to her before taking a drink. Ginny wasn't impressed.

"Watch out, you two just might be compatible," Theo warned laughing. Draco sneered.

Ginny let out the most unladylike laugh. "Oh fuck no," she howled, "not in a million years would Malfoy and I pair." She looked at him and laughed again. "I know how much you enjoy watching the Harpies play, but definitely no."

Hermione snorted. "You watch the Harpies? Since when?" she laughed, not believing Ginny's words. She knew he liked quidditch but she found it impossible he liked the Harpies; there were two muggleborns on the team.

"Calm down Granger, I've been a fan of the Harpies since third year," Malfoy said, "a team of fierce women working towards a common goal in my favorite sport? Yes please." Hermione eyed him interestedly.

"It's the only sport we have," she reminded him, trying not to laugh, but Theo managed for her. He couldn't keep quiet.

"Ha! Watch out Draco, she might just get to you," Theo warned.

"Oh on the contrary Theo, I believe I've already gotten to her," he stated with an air of satisfaction. "What with that lovely elevator ride and all. Bet she's still thinking it over. Come on Theo, we'll leave them alone so they can talk about it."

Before Hermione and Ginny knew what was happening, the boys were walking away. "Oh and Granger," Draco called over his shoulder. When she looked him in the eye he pointed just under his, bringing her attention back to those stupid bags under her eyes.

She blinked incredulously in his direction as he and Theo disappeared back inside the bar. Ginny looked at her. "What in the bloody hell was that?"

Hermione still looked like she couldn't find her own voice. But when she did, it came out a bit strained. "That, Ginny, was the Draco Malfoy I was talking about. Weird, huh?"

Ginny stared wide eyed at where the boys had left. "He sure is something, whatever he is now."

Lost in confusing thoughts, Hermione could only nod.