Chapter 2


The next morning, the whispers and curious looks continued, but Hermione felt they were much louder and obvious. Others weren't hiding that they were blatantly staring and whispering as she walked by.

Hermione slid into her seat at the Gryffindor table next to Neville, the only other Gryffindor their age who had returned to school to complete an eighth year. She looked around and when she made eye contact with a few people, they quickly looked away confirming her suspicions that they were indeed talking about her.

"Neville?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

He didn't even ask her why but handed over the Daily Prophet. On the front page was a list of all of the matches.

"So we are the only triad, that's why I am being whispered at?"

Neville shrugged as he swallowed a bit of porridge. "I reckon that's part of it."

"And the other part?"

"Come on, Hermione." He lowered his voice. "He was a Death Eater and let other Death Eaters into the school. You can't expect everyone to forget about that."

Hermione sighed. "I suppose not. Doesn't help that I am a war hero." Sarcasm dripping from her tongue.

"A war hero you say?" Harry said, sitting down next to her.

She handed over the paper and his eyes scanned it before setting it down and pouring himself pumpkin juice.

Hermione looked over at him and he laughed. "What?"

"Doesn't it bother you that people are staring and whispering about us?"

Harry shrugged. "Seems pretty normal to me."

Hermione sighed again. He had a point but only because this was normal for him. He was used to everyone treating him this way having been famous since he was a baby.

"Maybe you're right..." She vanished the newspaper, not wanting to look at it anymore. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

Wrong.

When Hermione retired to her room last night, she was devastated. Not because of people gossiping about her having to marry two wizards who so vocally despised each other over the years, but because of potential life-threatening matches.

Several women, ones that she didn't know very well, were in tears and considering ending their lives because of the matches they were given. Some young women her age were paired with wizards much older than them, and some even had a history of violence. In a couple cases, there had been trials from suspicious deaths of their spouses. Of course, the Wizengamot couldn't prove anything, but that didn't mean the rumors didn't persist.

Hermione threw her bookbag down next to the island in the small kitchenette area — one of the perks of having their own living quarters is that they could eat whenever they pleased. Making her way further into the room, she sat at the desk provided in the common area and rapped her knuckles on the desk. She could get a headstart on homework, but she was a bit preoccupied for that. Harry was off at Quidditch practice so she would be alone for at least several hours.

Making up her mind, she pulled out a piece of parchment and a quill, ready to draft a proposal. One that would get rid of this marriage law entirely. She wasn't doing it for herself — she happened to be quite content with her matches and the trust they shared. She was doing this for the other women who were stuck in dire situations — the ones who were ill-matched and horrified at what their marriage might bring.

Hours later, Hermione set the quill down just as the portrait hole opened. She stretched her arms into the air and turning, she was surprised to not only see Harry, but Draco as well.

"Working on homework?" Draco asked her at the desk.

"Of sorts." At his raised eyebrow, she grabbed the letter she wrote and handed it over. "I want to abolish the marriage law."

Harry's head flew up from where he had taken a seat on the island to eat a late dinner. "What?"

Hermione nodded. "The Ministry shouldn't be forcing us into something that we don't want no matter how low the population is." She paused. "To be frank, it's quite absurd that they would do this. Don't you think?"

She looked to Draco first and then Harry. When neither of them responded, she continued. "I mean, and basing the matches off of complex arithmancy? I, for one, would like to see that for myself. I mean, how can an arithmancy possibly find our match? Beyond that, how did it match all three of us together with no other triads to speak off. It just seems odd and completely out of the ordinary."

Harry shifted uncomfortably, his brow furrowing as his eyes dropped to his plate. He was no longer eater, but instead moving his food around the plate with his fork. "But it happened, we're matched together."

"Yes we are."

"Then why should it matter that it's odd or out of the ordinary?"

Hermione huffed and flung a piece of hair away from her face. "I am just saying that the ministry shouldn't force us into a marriage none of us want."

Harry looked up, his eyes wide with hurt. His mouth opened and closed a couple times as he struggled with what to say before he stood up and stormed out of their shared common room, leaving Draco and Hermione behind."

"What?" Hermione asked, scrunching her eyebrows in confusion, looking at Draco. "What did I say?"

"Hermione, for how intelligent you are, you can be a bit daft sometimes. Do you not see how what you said could be upsetting for both Harry and myself?" She didn't respond and Draco continued. "Whether you meant it or not, you said that the Ministry is forcing us into something we don't want—"

"—But they are. They...oh."

Draco nodded as Hermione finally realized her mistake. "So he thinks that I don't want him, either of you. But that is the furthest from the truth."

"Then find him and tell him. He needs to hear it from you."

"But what about...you know I want you, right?"

Draco smirked. "I do, but doesn't mean I don't want to hear it. I might not show my emotions, Slytherin remember? But he—" Draco jerked his head toward the door Harry had left through moments before. "—He doesn't, his bloody Gryffindor heart."

"I have to find him."

"Go, I'll find you both later. It's still early and we have a later curfew." Hermione grabbed her bookbag and pressed a kiss against Draco's cheek in thanks.

"Thanks, Draco." She smirked at the slight pink tinge appearing on his cheeks as she ran out the door, after her other man.


"I'm sorry, Harry. Please forgive me. You have to know—"

"Hermione, you don't have to keep apologizing."

She looked down at her fingers. "I just feel horrible that my words didn't come out as I intended."

Harry grasped her hand and squeezed it. She leaned into him and just as she closed her eyes, she heard Draco's voice.

"Well, well, well, aren't you two the cutest."

A closed-mouth smiled crossed Hermione's lips. "Hello, Draco."

"You two have made up I see."

Harry nodded and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. She had been unsure how her apology was taken despite Harry's protests that everything was okay.

"Well, now that that's settled, follow me." Draco picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. He held out a hand to help Harry off the floor first, then Hermione. Draco didn't let her go as he did Harry and the boys entwined an arm with both of hers. Together, they walked her out of the library, Draco leading the way.

"Where are we going?"

Draco smirked. "You'll see."

Hermione huffed a little but continued walking — she didn't like surprises. She thought at first that he was leading them back to the heads dorm, but they bypassed the entrance and the entrance to the Gryffindor common room. When she saw the tapestry, it dawned on her.

"Are you sure? Last time we were here…" She trailed off.

"I think it will be good for us to see it."

Harry nodded. "Almost healing. It's where we saved your sorry arse from fiendfyre. Are you sure it even works still? I wouldn't be surprised if Hogwarts closed the room so it didn't burn down the rest of the school."

Draco paced three times before the door opened, just as it had for them many times before. Hermione followed Draco as he pushed open the door, Harry following close behind.

Hermione gasped. He had turned the room into a cozy sitting room with grey fabric furniture and a roaring fire, despite the not so cold temperatures outside.

"Perhaps some tea?" Hermione asked. "I know the room can't provide that."

"Dobby," Harry said, as he collapsed into the sofa, spreading his limbs out.

Dobby appeared in front of Harry. "Mister Harry Potter sir!" The elf looked up and with wide eyes greeted her as well. When the elf turned to Draco, his ears fell and he took a step back. "Master Malfoy."

"I'm not my father, Dobby. And I am no longer your master."

The elf nodded hesitantly and looked back to Harry.

"What can Dobby do for Mister Harry Potter and his friends?"

"Some tea, please, if it's not too much."

"Never too much. I'll be right back!" Dobby snapped his fingers and he was gone.

Harry motioned lazily to the other two and Hermione walked toward the sofa. Harry's arm was draped across the top and Hermione made the decision to sit next to him, so his arm was almost around her. Draco sat next to her, his legs close enough to touch her own.

They sat in silence at Dobby popped back in with their tea. Hermione made her tea and the boys did the same — she took note of how Draco took his tea for the future.

"So—" Hermione started, no longer able to sit in silence.

"So," Draco echoed. "I brought you both here because I think it's a good idea to talk about our relationship, how quickly we want it to progress, and if we want to stay together after you get the law abolished."

"You mean if?"

Draco smirked. "I meant what I said."

Hermione blushed. "I am glad you have so much faith in my abilities but it's a big if."

"And speaking of if," Harry said, finally speaking up. "What are we going to do if we do abolish the law?"

"We?" Hermione asked.

Draco scoffed. "You don't think we would let you do this on your own, do you? We know that there are unsavory matches. It's in all of our best interest to fight this law to the best of our ability. With our brains—"

"—and money," Harry interjected.

Draco nodded in agreement. "And money. We can do anything. But back to the question at hand. What are we going to do once the law is abolished?"

They sat in silence for a moment, Hermione's brain churning. She liked them, she did. "Why not give this a real shot? We can start now...dating. If it goes well, we can continue on and eventually be bonded even if the law is abolished. If it doesn't go well, then we can go our separate ways when the law is abolished."

"Excellent idea." Draco took a sip of his tea before setting it down on the coffee table. "Now, we need to talk about our relationship." He looked at his watch. "We still have a while until curfew, we best get started."

"Why do I feel like this is a counseling session?" Harry asked, throwing his head back to lay on the back of the sofa.

Hermione giggled. "Because it is. But, before we start, I have one thing I want to say." They both looked at her. "Let's promise to always be honest with each other no matter what. Communication is key."

Both of the boys nodded, agreeing with her statement.

"Well, now that honesty is on the table, let's get started." Draco started from the beginning, baring his heart to the pair that were to become his spouses.

Hermione settled back into the sofa. Tonight was going to be a long, and perhaps difficult, night.


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