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A/N: New chapter is here. Review and let me know your thoughts.
Chapter 13
Harry and Pansy were slowly strolling on the paths of Hogsmeade. They had left their quarter in the morning while the other couples of the quarter 3 were getting ready for their meetings. This matter was totally nagging Harry.
His mind was clouded with various possible explanations behind Pansy's nonchalance on meeting her family. The one mostly disturbed him was that she was embarrassed to be paired with him and hence the delay. She might have thought that he was not eligible to meet her perfect noble, pureblood family. Well he did not deserve such treatment. Potter family may not be ancient and had no dukedom but they were respected and had pureblood lineage as well. So maybe he being half-blood was bothering her. If Malfoy could accept a muggleborn witch, nonetheless his childhood nemesis, then accepting him should be much easier for Pansy.
Harry decided that he had thought enough. He would directly confront her like he did on the party night. But the problem was he could not. Every time he opened his mouth, he would stammer and then say something else. Maybe the liquor helped him that night as sober Harry was failing now.
Pansy halted and suggested they sit under a big tree beside the path. They comfortably sat next to each other with their backs pressing against the tree. It was mid-October. The weather was preparing to welcome winter wholeheartedly. The green was slowly withering.
"I was born a disappointment." Pansy broke the silence. Harry turned his head to her in surprise.
"My father wanted a son to carry on his dukedom. Instead he got me, an unwanted daughter. I was the legitimate heir but uncherished. My parents tried for a son several times. Every time. due to my mother's critical pregnancy, miscarriage occurred except one time with me." Pansy breathed sharply. Her voice was hoarse and sad.
Harry was slightly taken aback by her confession. She had never shared about her past or family with him before. He did not know that she had so much raw pain inside her. He could not find any word to console her but still he tried, "Still you are the rightful heir to your father. When he sees you succeed, he will understand his mistake."
She shook her head, "I always tried my best to get appreciation from him. But he did not even give me his attention. When Blaise broke the betrothal, my father told me that the least hope he had in me were gone. I was blamed for being too stupid to let Blaise go. I was blamed for my family's ruined reputation. My mother was also blamed."
Harry felt fury growing inside him. His hand clutched into a fist. He could not believe that her own family would do such injustice to her. Pansy kept talking. "During the war, my father got himself a mistress. He started living with her in our family home in front of me and my mother. It devastated my mother so much that she got severely sick. After a few weeks my mother died freeing my father to marry his mistress and try for a son again."
A drop of tear was sliding on her cheek. She inhaled deeply and continued. "But in pureblood society, there are certain rules and regulations that are to be maintained in case of second marriage. So, my father had to wait for the end of the war to get married."
Her story had turned him curious. He was thinking about several outcomes of the situation. "So, is he married now?" asked Harry.
"Two weeks before the battle of Hogwarts, my father got into an argument with the Carrow siblings. He refused to give money to them. As a result, they tortured him to the extent that he had to get admitted into St Mungo's. Since then my father is there, getting treated."
She turned to Harry and found his mouth has turned into an O. "I am sorry. I am so sorry Pansy. I had no idea about this."
"Only a few people know about this. Most people think he is keeping a low profile to make them forget his ties to the dark side," Pansy paused and looked into his eyes. "I know it has been bothering you that I did not talk to you about any meeting. But the thing is, I technically have no family for you to meet." Her voice broke.
Hearing this, he could no longer control himself. He yanked her hand, brought her close to him and hugged her. Pansy quietly sobbed into his chest. Harry held her tighter. He was determined to protect her and never let her go. She was so broken, so precious.
"I tried to tell you this before but just could not." It was easier for Pansy to talk more frankly as she was not facing him now. Harry took a deep breath and smelled her hair. "Don't you ever dare hesitate to me, Pansy! You can tell me everything" said Harry.
Pansy smiled and hugged him back tighter.
….
Hermione, Ginny and Luna scooped together in Ginny's bed. Hermione had brought hot chocolate for them from the kitchen. Every quarter had a small kitchen for the couples. "Alright enough suspense, Ginny! Come on tell us!" Luna excitedly said.
Then Ginny started telling. "The Greengrass mansion is so beautiful. The interior was exquisite. When we reached there, we saw all of our parents were already present there. Mrs. Greengrass proposed that we had lunch first and then we discuss." She paused, "After the lunch, we all sat at the living room. I must say the Greengrass family is quite friendly and warm, a little demanding though. They said that Greengrass was going to be the next duchess of House Greengrass. So Ron had to choose a certain job that maintain their status. Same thing was said to me by Mrs. Zabini."
Hermione said, "Yes. Me too."
"Same here." Luna joined.
Ginny continued. "Ron expressed his desire to be an auror or work for the ministry. They said that the ministry was lower than the dukedom. But he could be an auror provided he would not take overseas task too often and must retire within the age 30 and work as a consulting auror for their company or any other international institution. Ron was a little reluctant at first but later agreed to them."
"What about you?" Hermione asked.
"Well Mrs. Zabini is too much pretentious. I did not like her much. I straightforwardly said that I wanted to be a professional quidditch player. She dismissed that saying the duchess consort staying away most of the time was not acceptable. Also, it did not do well with the image. But I was adamant that that is the only thing I wanted to do."
"Then?" Luna asked.
"Zabini calmed us down and negotiated. He reasoned that being a professional quidditch player was an independent profession according to the dukedom. He then put a condition on that for his mother's approval. The condition is I will have to retire within the age of 28 unless we get divorced and then I can do other jobs in sports area but it must not include constant abroad travelling. Mrs. Zabini and I agreed to it at last."
"Good for you." Hermione said.
"What about Mrs. Malfoy? Ginny inquired.
Hermione spoke, "Well, various points of an agreement deal were discussed. I have agreed to sign the agreement paper. Mrs. Malfoy said that the job had to be independent or in Malfoy company. She dismissed ministry for me as well and suggested some good job options. Honestly, I was not happy at first. Later when she talked to me about other opportunities, I found myself interested in some of them. So, I agreed to get a job according to their rules."
"There was no discussion on job much in my case. Mr. Nott asked me what I wanted to do. I answered either work for my father's newspaper or be a naturalist and do research. Theo's parents agreed without any fuss." Luna informed.
"That is because your choices are both independent. Working for your father's paper and doing research are considerable to them." Hermione said.
"I guess so." Luna replied in a dreamy voice.
"Alright then. Tell me the wedding plans!" Ginny said in excited voice.
"10th November in Nott Manor." Luna informed them.
"28th December in the rose garden of Malfoy's Scotland Mansion."
"Lovely" said Luna.
"Mine is on December 20 in the Zabini Mansion. Ron's wedding is on January 5 in Greengrass' farmhouse in Edinburgh." Ginny informed.
"None of you are getting married in the Burrow?" asked Hermione.
"Well tradition wise Zabini has to get married in his ancestral home. In case of Ron, Mrs. Greengrass dismissed the Burrow simply because it would be small for the wedding."
"Really?" Hermione said.
"Yes, I told you they are demanding." Ginny said sheepishly. "Mom is a little upset for that. I hope it will pass."
…..
Hermione was lying on her bed or technically their bed. She was trying to sleep but her head was full with a lot of things. Future was scaring her. Marriage, Graduation, Career, children… she just did not want to worry about these. But they were haunting her. She closed her eyes again in attempt to sleep.
Draco entered the room from the bathroom. He switched off the light and settled on the bed beside her. He took a deep breath and turned to face Hermione.
"Can't sleep?"
Hermione was startled with his question. They never talked while lying on bed unless he had nightmare. "No I can't. I feel restless today."
"I feel the same. I took this arrangement as a nightmare that I will get used to, but I am still quite baffled by it"
"Really? Maybe this is the first time you showed some feelings about this," She said.
"I guess, we are past the 'pretend everything is fine' phase, Granger."
"Then I am glad, Malfoy." She smiled.
"I apologize for making you deal with my mother alone. I should have been there." He slowly said. He was meaning to say this since evening.
"Yeah, I would have liked your presence there. I have to say though your mother tried to make the situation as easy as possible."
"I knew she would do that. I promise you today that I will be by your side through this whole thing."
Hermione felt something hearing these words coming out of his mouth. She could not place the feeling but it definitely raised her heartbeat. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Draco nodded. She could sense it even in the dark. She wondered though how she did it. "So you missed the meeting. Then you don't know the decisions."
"I do actually. Martin sent me a briefing."
"What do you feel about the wedding date and place then?" She asked. Curiosity was getting the better of her.
"I have no problem with them. The date is very much logical and the place is undoubtedly spectacular." He said hardly believing that he was planning his wedding with Hermione.
"I thought the same." She took a deep breath. The wedding plans terrified her a lot.
"Look I believe we can get through this." He paused. "I know I am difficult but I am trying to cooperate as much as possible. There will come some hard time but I promise with my honor that I will be with you in this."
Hermione was looking at Draco with goofy smile and wide eyes. This rawness coming from him seemed like a milestone to her.
"I promise you the same. I have decided to trust you. Don't prove me wrong." Hermione said.
"I won't Granger." He assured her. With all his heart he wanted to keep his word.
A/N: Please Review!
