AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you a lot guys for reviewing, following and adding the story to your favourite list. I would appreciate if you review more
Btw the thoughts of the characters are written in italic form, in case you confuse them with the dialogues.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harry Potter
…
At last, the sorting was over. The Headmistress stood before the pairs. It was written all over her face that she was feeling worried for them.
Hermione and Draco have not said a word to each other. They were just standing there looking anywhere but each other.
McGonagall spoke, "From today, you have to share a room with your partner. We have arranged special quarters for you. Each quarter consists of a common room and four bed rooms. That means four pairs will stay in each quarter." She paused. "You need to get married within 6 months and have your first child in 2 years. I am handing out sheets for all of you. In this sheet, you will find your quarter number, its location, name of the other pairs you will be sharing your quarters with and all other information that you need."
She handed out the sheets. Hermione took her sheet and started reading.
Name: Hermione Granger
Partner: Draco Malfoy
Quarter no: 4
Location: Beside the Ravenclaw House
Password: Golden Emerald
Room no: 3 [upstairs]
Pairs sharing the quarter: Daphne Greengrass- Ronald Weasley [room no 1 downstairs]
Ginevra Weasley- Blaise Zabini [room no 2 downstairs]
Pansy Parkinson- Harry Potter [room no 4 upstairs]
Your class schedule is given on the other side of the sheet.
…..
Hermione sighed. "Share room with Malfoy? I don't think I will survive a day" she thought to herself.
Hermione felt someone's eyes on her. She looked up and saw Malfoy was looking at her. When she looked back, he shifted his gaze to the sheet he was holding.
"Wow! No mudblood or other remarks. It's a good sign" Hermione thought.
Ron, Ginny and Harry were also standing awkwardly with their partners. None of them had spoken a word to them as her.
McGonagall spoke again, "Your classes will start tomorrow. You have today to settle into your new accommodation and cope up with the law. Now, all of you go to your respective chambers with your partners and other pairs."
Harry, Ron and Ginny moved closer to Hermione. Harry said, "We should go" Hermione nodded. She looked around and saw Draco, Pansy, Blaise and Theo had started to walk.
The walk from the Great Hall to their new quarter was quiet. None of them uttered a single word. Hermione was feeling pity for Harry the most. "After all these years' pain and suffer, he gets Parkinson as his reward. Well the only good thing is we are in the same quarter, we can support each other. If I manage to stay alive of course".
She looked at Malfoy. He was walking with his housemates ahead of them showing no emotion.
Merlin knows what he is thinking. He might be thinking of ways to piss me off so that I give up my magic and he can become free.
They soon reached their quarter. Zabini looked at the sheet and told the password to the portrait. Then the door creaked open. They entered. The common room was quite spacious. There were few couches, sofas and a table surrounded by some chairs. The decoration was noteworthy. The room was bestowed in Gryffindor and Slytherin colour.
In the left they could see room 1, Ron and Daphne's room and in the opposite side room 2, Ginny and Blaise's. In the middle of the room there was a staircase leading to upstairs. The other two pairs' rooms were there. The rooms were quite far from each other to maintain privacy.
Blaise Zabini looked at them "Welcome to heaven, everyone. Make yourself comfortable in this terribly small, confining quarter."
Ginny rolled her eyes. "We all know you live in a bloody huge manor but you don't have to be an arse about it"
"Oops! Sorry Weaselete, I forgot about YOUR house. This place might seem like a palace to you, huh?" Blaise retorted. "Shut the fuck up, Zabini. We don't give a shit about your manors built by your death eater parents." Ron snapped angrily.
Daphne frowned "Weasley, for your information not all Slytherin purebloods have death eaters in their families. It just shows how embarrassingly prejudiced you are!" It was a public knowledge that the Greengrass family was not a follower of Voldemort and also in spite of supporting the dark side; the Parkinsons were not death eaters.
Ron was going to reply something but Harry interrupted, "Stop it, everyone. Arguing with each other will take us nowhere." He paused. "The war is over. We all got our rewards and punishments. So please let's put all these behind us. I just want us to live bloody peacefully." He continued, "So the ground rule while living here is you can argue and shout about your personal problems as much as you want in YOUR ROOM. Not in the common room. I would really appreciate that we all behave decently with each other. This will help us to get through the bigger problem, the Marriage law."
Harry was right. His words made sense. Everyone silently agreed with Harry.
"I totally agree with Potter. We have to think about the others too. I hope we can be considerate in this case unlike some people who just love themselves and don't give a damn about others' feelings," Pansy suddenly said giving Blaise an intent look. Blaise looked a little guilty and disturbed but didn't say anything. Everyone noticed this interaction and the tension between them. Hermione saw Draco looked at Pansy and signaled her with his eyes to stay quiet.
"What is it between Zabini and Parkinson? I thought they were very good friends. They were used to be always together before. I am curious to know what happened." She thought.
"Potter, we accept your deal. I assure you that I and my housemates will abide by the rules and try to behave decently with everyone" Draco said looking at Harry.
Harry nodded. "Thank you and I assure the same on behalf of my housemates."
"As we have settled the deal, let's go to our rooms, shall we?" Blaise said and then walked towards his and Ginny's room. Ginny then followed him. The others also started walking towards their new rooms.
…
Hermione opened the door of her and Draco's room and went inside. The room was spacious. At the center, there was large double bed. There were two reading tables and two chairs and in the right side there were two wardrobes. In the left there was a door leading to the washroom.
Hermione sat on the bed and sighed. Draco, standing in front of her, was looking around the room. She finally broke the silence. "We need to talk, Malfoy."
Draco nodded and sat on a chair facing her. "Yes, we do."
She took a deep breath, "I know unfortunately we got stuck with each other. But I believe that we do not have to get married in the end. I am going to start my research from tomorrow and I will try my best to find a loophole, there must be one. Also, there is a huge chance the public will unite against it and it might force the ministry to repeal the law."
He looked at her with an interest, "Granger, do you have any idea about magical laws and the Wizengamot?" She shrugged with a frown, "I just have some fundamental knowledge"
He nodded, "I guessed so. Heads of the ancient pureblood dukedoms are members of the Wizengamot. Being a Malfoy, that includes me. Usually most laws require votes cast from all the members. However, there are some special laws which are passed by the consent of a few selected warlocks and the chief warlock." He paused. "The marriage law is that kind. It can be compared to an unbreakable vow. These type of laws cannot be repealed before observing their implications for more than 20 years."
Hermione gaped at him in surprise. He continued, "If the law does not go through, the lawmakers and the affected general people will die within a year. That is how it has worked till now. There has been no exception"
"That is insane. How are you so sure that the marriage law is that kind?" She replied.
"I am sure cause neither I nor the other heads of the dukedoms were asked for votes. It is that kind of law. You have no way of avoiding it unless you choose to leave the wizarding world."
She shook her head in frustration, "So, you are saying I should do nothing about it! You are okay getting married to me?"
He pursed his lips and spoke calmly, "Look Granger, this is something you and I have never wanted. I am, of course, not okay with it but there is no escape from it. So, why don't we plan ahead for the possible scenario? Let's deal with this practically, shall we?"
Hermione leaned back with a frown, "What are you proposing?"
"I propose that we be civil to each other and get acquainted as much as possible. Eventually, if we have to, we will get married. After all the conditions and criterias of the Marriage law are fulfilled, if you want to get rid of me, I will free you of the bond. Wizarding divorces are difficult to achieve but not impossible. With my family ties and background, I will be able to gain us a divorce," Draco looked very serious. He continued, "In the meantime you are welcome to do your research or any other work you want to do. But if you are not successful in that, we follow my plan"
Hermione thought, "The other conditions are consummation of the marriage and babies I guess. Even the thought of these is freaking me out. But Malfoy is right."
"Fine, I agree. If we cannot repeal the law, we will do according to your plan," Hermione said. "You got yourself a deal, Malfoy"
Draco nodded, "Thank you"
Then he stood up and walked to his luggage. Their stuffs were already sent to the room. To Hermione's surprise, he started arranging his stuffs in the wardrobe and books on his table. Hermione had never seen any guy arrange his stuffs so neatly before. She was amazed.
"Harry was right. Malfoy can be civil when he wants. Actually he is not that bad. Just his façade that he puts on, keeps the people to see the real him. Let's see if I can find some loophole or get married to him" Hermione thought.
A/N: Please review and let me know what you think. Criticism is welcome. If you want me to improve something or add something please tell me.
