Dearest Hermione,
I'm so sorry that your father and I couldn't be there to tell you the news ourselves. But isn't it wonderful? You will be taking on one of the most prominent names in all the wizarding land! The Malfoys are very wealthy indeed and you will be most happy living in Malfoy Manor.
As for Ron, my dear, he will get over it, as you will. I know right now it hurts to have to leave someone you care for so much, but as time passes, it will heal. Trust me on that, please.
You may be asking yourself why your father and I agreed to such an proposal and the truth is, Hermione, I have to confess that I think the Malfoys will be able to provide for you much better than the Weasleys. I hold nothing against Ron and his family, believe me, but I just don't think that you should be associating with such a family now that everyone knows your true heritage.
I'm sorry, honey, but sometimes good things can be concealed in the most unlikely packages. Your father and I will visit you soon; you won't be leaving for the manor until after school has ended.
Take care, my darling. Love, Mum and Dad
The letter brought more rage to Hermione's mind than when her parents had told her she truly was a pureblood. She crumpled it in her fist and threw it on the floor just as two of her female friends entered the room.
"What was that?" Parvati Patil asked, watching silent tears stream down Hermione's face. "An angry letter from a friend or something?"
"What's going on with you, Hermione?" Padma Patil asked as she sat down on her own bed and began examining her fingernails. "I heard that you were betrothed to Draco Malfoy." She let out a hollow laugh. "What a joke."
Hermione emitted a small sob and Padma looked immediately regretful. "Oh, Hermione, it's not true, is it?"
"Yes," Hermione whined, grinding her fists into her eyes. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed heavily, feeling the comforting hands on her back. "That letter is from my parents, confirming it."
"May I read it?" Parvati asked, picking up the ball of paper. Hermione nodded miserably and Parvati unravelled the paper, reading it's wrinkled page. "I never knew your parents were like that," she said quietly placing the letter in her sister's outstretched hands.
"Nor did I," Hermione wailed, "but I guess since they kept the fact that I'm a pureblood from me so long, they figured they can control my life!"
"So are you going to go through with it?" Padma asked, folding the letter in half after reading it. "I mean, Hermione Malfoy doesn't exactly ring, does it?"
Hermione began giggling. Despite all the pressure and pain that was donated to her, she couldn't help but find her new doomed name somewhat humorous. "My middle name is Miranda," she said quietly. "Hermione Miranda Malfoy." She began to laugh out loud.
"At least that kind of takes the edge off the bitterness of the name Malfoy," Parvati said, giggling. The atmosphere of the room went sombre again as Parvati asked, "Does Ron know?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes. I told both him and Harry as soon as I got back from Dumbledore's office two nights ago." She sighed. "I don't think he's too happy."
"Can you blame him?" Padma asked. "You two have been destined for each other, like, forever!" Her voice got deathly quiet. "Have you seen Malfoy yet?"
"He was with his father when I was told," Hermione replied, wiping the stray tears off her face. "He didn't say too much. But I haven't seen him since."
"I'm surprised," Padma quipped while Parvati handed Hermione tissues. "You would think he would be gloating and everything." She sighed and looked at her wristwatch. "Well, I had better get back to my own common room. They're going to think I've abdicated from my own house pretty soon!" She bid the two remaining girls a good night and left the dorm.
Parvati turned to Hermione, smiling gently. "I'm sure things will look up soon," she said, trying to be helpful. "Talk to your parents. See what they're reasoning is."
"Yeah," Hermione muttered, knowing that deep down inside her heart it would do no good.
News of the engagement spread quickly, although not too many students were willing to say all that much. Everywhere Hermione went, students stared at her left ring finger, which remained empty, and teachers gave her sad, sympathetic smiles. Except for Severus Snape, the Potions master and head of Slytherin house. He grinned spitefully at her every chance he got. "Going to join us soon?" he asked as he passed by her desk in class one afternoon. "I can't wait."
Hermione spent as much time as she could in a dark corner of the library, trying to escape from the world. She would sit on the floor, read long books and write sad, complicated poems, just to rid herself of the injustice that had become her life. No one dared to bother her here so she was surprised when she looked up one day to see Professor Dumbledore hovering above her.
"Professor!" she cried, rather surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"
"Seeing how you are," he replied, bending down to sit against the large stack of books. "How are you doing?"
Hermione shrugged while studying her shoes. "Okay, I guess," she finally replied. "I haven't seen Malfoy yet, so until then I'm pretty sure I'll be okay."
"Mr. Weasley wasn't all too pleased with the news," Dumbledore stated sadly. "The other evening, he threw his fist through a glass window and had to receive immediate medical attention from Madam Pomfrey."
"I know," Hermione said sadly. "I think he's mad at me, but how can he be? It's not my fault."
"I think he will realize that with time," Dumbledore said, looking around with interest. "What a significant place to hide out."
"What do you mean?"
He looked at the girl with fascination. "You have chosen the exact same spot to hide out that Harry's mother, Lily Evans, often did."
"Really?" For a moment, all Hermione's troubles were forgotten as she relished this news. "Why did she hide out here?"
"From James Potter and his friends. They would often tease her incessantly and when she needed to get away, she would come here."
"How do you know that, Professor?"
Dumbledore smiled gently. "I used to come visit her here, too. Well, I will let you get back to your reading." It took great effort but soon the elderly man was heaved to his feet and he turned his back. "Good day, Miss Granger."
"Good day, Professor," Hermione replied quietly. She glanced around the stacks of books surrounding her. On the far wall, only a few inches away from her, she could see an engraved message: L.E. + R.L. Curious as to what it meant, she leaned closer, only to notice that R.L. has been scratched out and J.P. replaced it faintly. Putting two and two together, Hermione figured that L.E. was Lily Evans and J.P. was James Potter, but who was R.L. and what significance did he play in Harry's mother's life? Deciding to press further on the issue later on, Hermione went back to her self-wallowing and picked up her quill again. It was going to be a long day.
Hermione didn't come face to face with Draco until almost two weeks after the initial announcement. She was walking through the courtyard, desperate to get away from the prying stares, when she almost ran headlong into Malfoy and his goonies, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Assaulting me already?" Malfoy cried, rubbing his forehead where Hermione had bumped him. "Don't take it out on me, Granger, I don't want to be stuck with you any more than you do with me."
"You have no idea," Hermione muttered angrily, rubbing her own head. "Now get out of my way."
"Hold it!" Draco cried, and Goyle pushed her back in front of him. "Father's been on my back to do this for a long time now and since we're both here, now's a good a time as any." He reached into his robes and fully expecting him to brandish his wand, Hermione reached for her own. But instead, Malfoy pulled out a small beige box. He opened it and grabbed a ring in his fist. "Hold this," he said, thrusting the box at Crabbe. Bending down on one knee he said, "Willyoumarryme?"
"Huh?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Will you marry me?"
"No."
"You don't have a choice."
"Then why did you ask me?"
"Look!" Draco stood up angrily, the ring still clutched in his fist. "Father's been after me to 'properly' ask you so the least you can do is go along with it!"
"I'll never go along with it," Hermione said defiantly. She spit in his face before storming away quickly. "Of all the nerve, especially in front of all those people," Hermione muttered to herself. She hurried along the dark corridors, noticing that the sun was fading fast outside and storm clouds were rolling in. "Might snow later on," she thought. "After all, it is almost March. Winter isn't usually gone this early." She entered the common room, after arguing with the Fat Lady for almost ten minutes, and flopped down in a chair, exhausted.
"What's going on now?" Ron asked from behind her. "First you go and get engaged without me and now you're ignoring me?"
Hermione spun around in her seat. "Sorry, Ron!" she cried, looking at him seated in the chair behind her. "I didn't notice you."
"Of course you didn't!" Ron cried in mock understanding. "I guess you were too busy thinking about your upcoming wedding to snot face! Silly me, how could I even dream of getting involved? I'm sorry, Mrs. Malfoy, I'll just step out of your way!" He got up and stalked out of the room, leaving Hermione speechless.
"Jerk!" she yelled after him. "Like I have a choice!" She leaned back heavily in the soft chair, feeling the tears rush to her eyes.
"He'll get over it," came another voice from behind her and she sat up again.
"How many of you are there back there?" Hermione cried as Harry came into view.
"Just me, now that you've scared away Ron," Harry joked. "Seriously, he'll come to grips with it sooner or later."
"Well, I won't," Hermione grumbled as she slid down in her chair again. She saw Harry come around her seat and sit down on the table in front of her, beside the fireplace. "I just don't understand," she cried, feeling the day's frustrations come to an end. "Why me? There are loads of other pureblood girls in this school; why me? I'm nothing special!"
"Maybe not to Malfoy, but you are to us," Harry said soothingly. "Especially to Ron. He really cares about you."
"Doesn't he see that I care about him, too?" Hermione cried desperately. "I've always cared about him."
"You two really show it, with all your arguing and bickering," Harry said sarcastically.
Hermione gave him a withering glance. "Enough," she said bitterly, feeling sudden rage come pouring into her veins. "I know you've been through a lot, Harry, but you're most definitely not the only one with problems." Feeling that she may have gone a step or two out of bounds, she silenced herself, expecting Harry's wrath.
Instead, she got a weak smile. "I know," he said calmly. "I wouldn't want to marry Draco, either."
"Listen, Harry, I have a favour to ask." Hermione decided to ask while the going was good.
"What's that?" Harry had suddenly become very interested in a thread on the sofa.
"Do you have anything that belonged to your mother that you might be willing to lend me?"
"Like what?" Harry's interest was diverted to Hermione as she searched for a reason to justify her request. "I have a few of her journals and such but other than that, nothing."
"Journals!" Hermione's eyes lit up. "You mean like a diary, right?"
"Yeah."
"Could I borrow them sometime? If you don't mind, that is." She suddenly felt very shy and debated telling Harry why she wanted them, but much to her gratitude, he did not ask. He went back to examining the sofa and nodded, telling her he would search for them sometime soon.
I'm so sorry that your father and I couldn't be there to tell you the news ourselves. But isn't it wonderful? You will be taking on one of the most prominent names in all the wizarding land! The Malfoys are very wealthy indeed and you will be most happy living in Malfoy Manor.
As for Ron, my dear, he will get over it, as you will. I know right now it hurts to have to leave someone you care for so much, but as time passes, it will heal. Trust me on that, please.
You may be asking yourself why your father and I agreed to such an proposal and the truth is, Hermione, I have to confess that I think the Malfoys will be able to provide for you much better than the Weasleys. I hold nothing against Ron and his family, believe me, but I just don't think that you should be associating with such a family now that everyone knows your true heritage.
I'm sorry, honey, but sometimes good things can be concealed in the most unlikely packages. Your father and I will visit you soon; you won't be leaving for the manor until after school has ended.
Take care, my darling. Love, Mum and Dad
The letter brought more rage to Hermione's mind than when her parents had told her she truly was a pureblood. She crumpled it in her fist and threw it on the floor just as two of her female friends entered the room.
"What was that?" Parvati Patil asked, watching silent tears stream down Hermione's face. "An angry letter from a friend or something?"
"What's going on with you, Hermione?" Padma Patil asked as she sat down on her own bed and began examining her fingernails. "I heard that you were betrothed to Draco Malfoy." She let out a hollow laugh. "What a joke."
Hermione emitted a small sob and Padma looked immediately regretful. "Oh, Hermione, it's not true, is it?"
"Yes," Hermione whined, grinding her fists into her eyes. She buried her face in her hands and sobbed heavily, feeling the comforting hands on her back. "That letter is from my parents, confirming it."
"May I read it?" Parvati asked, picking up the ball of paper. Hermione nodded miserably and Parvati unravelled the paper, reading it's wrinkled page. "I never knew your parents were like that," she said quietly placing the letter in her sister's outstretched hands.
"Nor did I," Hermione wailed, "but I guess since they kept the fact that I'm a pureblood from me so long, they figured they can control my life!"
"So are you going to go through with it?" Padma asked, folding the letter in half after reading it. "I mean, Hermione Malfoy doesn't exactly ring, does it?"
Hermione began giggling. Despite all the pressure and pain that was donated to her, she couldn't help but find her new doomed name somewhat humorous. "My middle name is Miranda," she said quietly. "Hermione Miranda Malfoy." She began to laugh out loud.
"At least that kind of takes the edge off the bitterness of the name Malfoy," Parvati said, giggling. The atmosphere of the room went sombre again as Parvati asked, "Does Ron know?"
Hermione nodded. "Yes. I told both him and Harry as soon as I got back from Dumbledore's office two nights ago." She sighed. "I don't think he's too happy."
"Can you blame him?" Padma asked. "You two have been destined for each other, like, forever!" Her voice got deathly quiet. "Have you seen Malfoy yet?"
"He was with his father when I was told," Hermione replied, wiping the stray tears off her face. "He didn't say too much. But I haven't seen him since."
"I'm surprised," Padma quipped while Parvati handed Hermione tissues. "You would think he would be gloating and everything." She sighed and looked at her wristwatch. "Well, I had better get back to my own common room. They're going to think I've abdicated from my own house pretty soon!" She bid the two remaining girls a good night and left the dorm.
Parvati turned to Hermione, smiling gently. "I'm sure things will look up soon," she said, trying to be helpful. "Talk to your parents. See what they're reasoning is."
"Yeah," Hermione muttered, knowing that deep down inside her heart it would do no good.
News of the engagement spread quickly, although not too many students were willing to say all that much. Everywhere Hermione went, students stared at her left ring finger, which remained empty, and teachers gave her sad, sympathetic smiles. Except for Severus Snape, the Potions master and head of Slytherin house. He grinned spitefully at her every chance he got. "Going to join us soon?" he asked as he passed by her desk in class one afternoon. "I can't wait."
Hermione spent as much time as she could in a dark corner of the library, trying to escape from the world. She would sit on the floor, read long books and write sad, complicated poems, just to rid herself of the injustice that had become her life. No one dared to bother her here so she was surprised when she looked up one day to see Professor Dumbledore hovering above her.
"Professor!" she cried, rather surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"
"Seeing how you are," he replied, bending down to sit against the large stack of books. "How are you doing?"
Hermione shrugged while studying her shoes. "Okay, I guess," she finally replied. "I haven't seen Malfoy yet, so until then I'm pretty sure I'll be okay."
"Mr. Weasley wasn't all too pleased with the news," Dumbledore stated sadly. "The other evening, he threw his fist through a glass window and had to receive immediate medical attention from Madam Pomfrey."
"I know," Hermione said sadly. "I think he's mad at me, but how can he be? It's not my fault."
"I think he will realize that with time," Dumbledore said, looking around with interest. "What a significant place to hide out."
"What do you mean?"
He looked at the girl with fascination. "You have chosen the exact same spot to hide out that Harry's mother, Lily Evans, often did."
"Really?" For a moment, all Hermione's troubles were forgotten as she relished this news. "Why did she hide out here?"
"From James Potter and his friends. They would often tease her incessantly and when she needed to get away, she would come here."
"How do you know that, Professor?"
Dumbledore smiled gently. "I used to come visit her here, too. Well, I will let you get back to your reading." It took great effort but soon the elderly man was heaved to his feet and he turned his back. "Good day, Miss Granger."
"Good day, Professor," Hermione replied quietly. She glanced around the stacks of books surrounding her. On the far wall, only a few inches away from her, she could see an engraved message: L.E. + R.L. Curious as to what it meant, she leaned closer, only to notice that R.L. has been scratched out and J.P. replaced it faintly. Putting two and two together, Hermione figured that L.E. was Lily Evans and J.P. was James Potter, but who was R.L. and what significance did he play in Harry's mother's life? Deciding to press further on the issue later on, Hermione went back to her self-wallowing and picked up her quill again. It was going to be a long day.
Hermione didn't come face to face with Draco until almost two weeks after the initial announcement. She was walking through the courtyard, desperate to get away from the prying stares, when she almost ran headlong into Malfoy and his goonies, Crabbe and Goyle.
"Assaulting me already?" Malfoy cried, rubbing his forehead where Hermione had bumped him. "Don't take it out on me, Granger, I don't want to be stuck with you any more than you do with me."
"You have no idea," Hermione muttered angrily, rubbing her own head. "Now get out of my way."
"Hold it!" Draco cried, and Goyle pushed her back in front of him. "Father's been on my back to do this for a long time now and since we're both here, now's a good a time as any." He reached into his robes and fully expecting him to brandish his wand, Hermione reached for her own. But instead, Malfoy pulled out a small beige box. He opened it and grabbed a ring in his fist. "Hold this," he said, thrusting the box at Crabbe. Bending down on one knee he said, "Willyoumarryme?"
"Huh?"
Draco rolled his eyes. "Will you marry me?"
"No."
"You don't have a choice."
"Then why did you ask me?"
"Look!" Draco stood up angrily, the ring still clutched in his fist. "Father's been after me to 'properly' ask you so the least you can do is go along with it!"
"I'll never go along with it," Hermione said defiantly. She spit in his face before storming away quickly. "Of all the nerve, especially in front of all those people," Hermione muttered to herself. She hurried along the dark corridors, noticing that the sun was fading fast outside and storm clouds were rolling in. "Might snow later on," she thought. "After all, it is almost March. Winter isn't usually gone this early." She entered the common room, after arguing with the Fat Lady for almost ten minutes, and flopped down in a chair, exhausted.
"What's going on now?" Ron asked from behind her. "First you go and get engaged without me and now you're ignoring me?"
Hermione spun around in her seat. "Sorry, Ron!" she cried, looking at him seated in the chair behind her. "I didn't notice you."
"Of course you didn't!" Ron cried in mock understanding. "I guess you were too busy thinking about your upcoming wedding to snot face! Silly me, how could I even dream of getting involved? I'm sorry, Mrs. Malfoy, I'll just step out of your way!" He got up and stalked out of the room, leaving Hermione speechless.
"Jerk!" she yelled after him. "Like I have a choice!" She leaned back heavily in the soft chair, feeling the tears rush to her eyes.
"He'll get over it," came another voice from behind her and she sat up again.
"How many of you are there back there?" Hermione cried as Harry came into view.
"Just me, now that you've scared away Ron," Harry joked. "Seriously, he'll come to grips with it sooner or later."
"Well, I won't," Hermione grumbled as she slid down in her chair again. She saw Harry come around her seat and sit down on the table in front of her, beside the fireplace. "I just don't understand," she cried, feeling the day's frustrations come to an end. "Why me? There are loads of other pureblood girls in this school; why me? I'm nothing special!"
"Maybe not to Malfoy, but you are to us," Harry said soothingly. "Especially to Ron. He really cares about you."
"Doesn't he see that I care about him, too?" Hermione cried desperately. "I've always cared about him."
"You two really show it, with all your arguing and bickering," Harry said sarcastically.
Hermione gave him a withering glance. "Enough," she said bitterly, feeling sudden rage come pouring into her veins. "I know you've been through a lot, Harry, but you're most definitely not the only one with problems." Feeling that she may have gone a step or two out of bounds, she silenced herself, expecting Harry's wrath.
Instead, she got a weak smile. "I know," he said calmly. "I wouldn't want to marry Draco, either."
"Listen, Harry, I have a favour to ask." Hermione decided to ask while the going was good.
"What's that?" Harry had suddenly become very interested in a thread on the sofa.
"Do you have anything that belonged to your mother that you might be willing to lend me?"
"Like what?" Harry's interest was diverted to Hermione as she searched for a reason to justify her request. "I have a few of her journals and such but other than that, nothing."
"Journals!" Hermione's eyes lit up. "You mean like a diary, right?"
"Yeah."
"Could I borrow them sometime? If you don't mind, that is." She suddenly felt very shy and debated telling Harry why she wanted them, but much to her gratitude, he did not ask. He went back to examining the sofa and nodded, telling her he would search for them sometime soon.
