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Chapter Three

Probation

November 9th, 2005

Hermione stepped out of the lift, her eyes scanning the first floor of the Ministry of Magic.

Dozens of memorandum flew around the ceiling as the workers rushed to their offices, muttering words under their breath and holding stacks of parchments in their hands.

She walked straight to the golden door down the corridor and opened it. The Minister's secretary was behind her desk, her glasses on and a quill between her fingers.

The old woman narrowed her eyes at the sight of Hermione.

"Here again, Miss Granger?" she asked in a neutral tone, pursing her lips.

Hermione placed a hand on her desk.

"I need to talk to the Minister."

"He's busy right now," Katherine frowned, resting her back on the chair.

Hermione drummed her fingers on the mahogany table, staring down at her with a straight face.

"Tell him that Hermione Granger is here."

Katherine rolled her eyes and took out her wand, muttering the Patronus charm. A silver bird floated around her, awaiting her instructions.

"Hermione Granger is here and she wants to talk to you immediately."

The bird flew away, going through the door at the other side of the room. Six seconds later a lynx came out of there, jumping on Katherine's table and speaking with Kingsley's voice.

"Send her in."

The woman glanced at Hermione, who gave her a smug smile.

She walked over to the Minister's office door and knocked twice.

"Come in."

Kingsley was standing in a corner, a big old book in his hands. He smiled sweetly at her.

"Hi, Hermione."

"Good morning," her gaze roamed over his face and her brow furrowed as she noticed the dark marks under his eyes. "You look tired."

He sat on his chair, gesturing for her to do the same.

"I can't sleep with everything that's going on," Kingsley leaned his elbows on the table, a pained expression on his face. "I don't like seeing people unhappy."

"It's not your fault, Kingsley."

"I should have done something more," he shook his head, rubbing his face with his hands. "I should…"

"There was nothing you could do to avoid this," interrupted Hermione in a soft voice. "And you know I don't blame you."

A mug of hot coffee levitated to her side and she took it, a grateful smile on her face. Kingsley took a sip of his mug and set it on the table.

He felt terribly guilty since the law had been passed by the Wizengamot members. Only Kingsley and three other wizards had voted against it.

The man smiled sadly at her.

"What can I do for you today, Hermione?"

Hermione made fists on her lap, controlling the anger she felt running through her veins.

It was not his fault.

"Harry told me that he's back."

Kingsley nodded, his expression growing severe.

"Malfoy is locked up in the Ministry cells," he informed her. "We will offer him an agreement to avoid Azkaban."

Hermione felt a tiny pang of pity inside her heart.

"He may be a git but he doesn't deserve a life sentence," she crossed her arms over her chest and sighed deeply. "What now?"

"An owl will let you know when you have to come here and choose the date," he checked something on the parchment and looked back at her. "Probably tomorrow morning."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I'll ask Luna to cover my shift again."

She left her empty mug on the table.

"This is not over yet," Hermione squared her shoulders, her face darkening with each word that rolled off her tongue. "This law will be history before the two years are over."

Kingsley put a finger to his lips.

"Be careful," he warned her in a low voice. "Don't let anyone hear you talking like that."

Hermione stood up.

"I won't," she held the knob, looking back at him with a half-smile as she opened the door. "See you tomorrow, Kingsley."

November 10th, 2005

Just as Kingsley said, an owl had come to her flat with a letter from the Ministry.

She and Malfoy were expected on the first floor at ten in the morning to pick a date for their wedding.

That word made her stomach churn.

She was going to be Malfoy's wife. There was no way around it.

Hermione took a deep breath, running her fingers through her cat's orange fur as she chewed on her lower lip.

Once the hands on the clock said she had a few minutes left, she let out a shuddering breath and closed her eyes.

She could do this.

Hermione let her mind go blank, as she had been practising since the end of the war. She pushed her thoughts to the back of her mind and inhaled sharply, opening her eyes.

It was time.

She rubbed Crookshank's ear one last time and got to her feet, grabbing a handful of Floo powder and tossing it into her fireplace.

The green flames roared in her ears as she stepped inside, appearing at the Ministry Atrium a few seconds later.

She avoided the curious looks of the wizards and witches as she walked to the lifts. She'd never understand how Harry could stand to work there and have hundreds of eyes on him all the time.

The golden grilles opened and she stepped out with a sigh, her hands fisted at her sides as she approached the golden door again.

Everyone fell silent when she opened it.

The Minister's secretary was nowhere to be seen. Instead, five Aurors were leaning against the walls with their gazes fixed on the person seated across from the Minister.

Hermione didn't let her eyes fall on him. She smiled sweetly at Harry, glad to have him there, and looked at Kingsley.

"Hi, Hermione. We were just explaining Mister Malfoy his probation conditions."

She saw Malfoy's dark expression from the corner of her eye as she walked over to the table, sitting on the only empty chair next to him.

His body tensed and Hermione ignored him.

"Probation conditions?" she repeated with a frown.

Kingsley sighed, rubbing his forehead.

"He left the country to avoid the new law and should be sent straight to Azkaban until the day of the wedding," he replied as he glanced at Malfoy, whose face was a mask. "However, I know how difficult this is for all of you so I'm setting him free. I won't be this understanding if he tries to escape again, though."

Malfoy narrowed his eyes.

"Obviously."

"I'm glad we agree on that," Kingsley looked between the two of them and Harry shifted uncomfortably at his side. "Are you two ready to choose a date?"

The Occlumency was not enough. Her blood was burning and she could barely control herself.

Hermione shook her head, lifting her chin and looking the Minister in the eye.

"Leave us alone."

Kingsley frowned.

"But…"

"Leave us," she insisted through gritted teeth, folding her arms. "I need a minute with him."

Kingsley exchanged a glance with the Aurors and nodded. He stood up, gathering the papers Malfoy had just signed and holding them to his chest.

With a last warning glance at her, he opened the door and the Aurors followed him.

"I'm staying, Hermione," Harry announced as they left the room, looking between her and Malfoy with a worried expression. "Please,

let me stay."

Hermione waited until the door clicked closed, scowling at her best friend as she heard Malfoy stand up.

"I won't kill him," she assured him in a low, threatening voice that said the opposite.

A loud snort at the other side of the office made her clench her jaw and look at him for the first time.

"As if you could," Malfoy snarled, his lips curling into a sneer.

Hermione walked over to him, her curls sparkling with uncontrolled magic, and he took a step back. His back hit the wall as she got closer, her hands trembling in anger.

"You had one thing to do!" she hissed, punching him hard in the chest. "Just one!"

He froze momentarily, staring down at her with wide eyes as she punched him again.

"What the fuck, Granger?" Malfoy shoved her aside, a look of disgust plastered on his face. "Don't touch me!"

Hermione was having none of it. He was going to hear her whether he wanted to or not.

"You only had to remain hidden, Malfoy," she clenched her hands, glaring up at him with all her might. "And you let them find you! You and your stupid arse couldn't stay away from the fancy restaurants for a few months. That was too much to ask!"

Malfoy glanced at Harry with a shocked expression. He just shrugged, wand in hand.

He looked back at her, his nostrils flaring.

"This is not my fucking fault," he hissed angrily, stepping away from her. "You should have escaped too."

"I can't," Hermione shook her head, tears filling her eyes. "Not after all I've done for this country. I refuse!"

Harry walked towards her and placed his arm around her.

"Breathe, Hermione. Just breathe."

She looked up at him and nodded, focusing on how the air entered and left her lungs.

Malfoy remained silent as she calmed herself. Once her hands stopped shaking Harry searched her gaze and she nodded.

He opened the door and Kingsley entered the office, the Aurors behind him.

Hermione sat down next to Malfoy again and clenched her jaw.

"Ready to choose now?"

She spoke before he could say a word.

"Thirty-first of December."

The last possible day. Kingsley hid a smile.

"Just as I imagined," he pushed the parchment towards them and waited until both of them had signed it. "You and Malfoy are engaged now. Congratulations."

Her left eye twitched. Malfoy snorted loudly at her side.

"You can go home now, Mister Malfoy," Kingsley added, lifting his brow. "And don't do anything stupid."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Minister."

Kingsley ignored his snarky reply and stood up, patting Hermione's shoulder before he left the office again.

She had less than two months. Fifty-one days.

Malfoy stood up and Hermione looked up at him with a frown.

"I won't live in your manor."

His sneer was back on his face.

"My parents wouldn't let someone like you set foot in our ancestral home."

Harry stepped closer, shooting him a warning look, and Malfoy worked his jaw as he looked back at her.

"Any suggestion?" he asked through gritted teeth.

Hermione shrugged, averting her gaze to the ceiling.

"I have a flat."

Malfoy scoffed.

"I'd rather choose another place. A neutral ground," he ran his tongue over his teeth, folding his arms. "I bought a flat in southern London a few years ago. And it has three rooms."

Hermione laughed, her eyes finding his again.

"How is that neutral ground?"

"I've never lived there before."

Well, that was a good option. She didn't want him in her home either.

"Okay," she accepted with a nod and stood up. "Get your flat ready, then. I don't want to think about this again until the end of December."

Malfoy chuckled darkly.

"I can't believe how lucky I am," he muttered as he glared at her.

Hermione met his sharp gaze, golden sparks of magic crackling around her fingers.

She had never lost control like this. Not since she received her Hogwarts letter.

"See you in hell, Malfoy."

"You mean our wedding?" he sneered, his deep voice full of venom. "Cannot wait."

Her feet moved on their own accord, taking her closer to him.

"I loathe you so much," she jabbed a finger into his chest, her brown eyes filled with hatred. "And I won't let you ruin my life."

His gaze burned her as he took a deep breath, making fists at his sides.

For a second, Hermione thought that he was going to hit her. But Malfoy just stepped closer, looking down his nose at her.

"Don't. Touch. Me."

Hermione pulled away as if he was the most disgusting thing she had ever seen. She looked back at Harry, who was waiting for her by the door.

"I will find a way out of this," she announced, stepping out of the office.

She needed a cup of tea. Or a glass of wine.

Her eyes burned as she walked to the lifts. She needed Ginny or she would drown in self-pity that afternoon.

Thank Merlin her parents didn't remember they had a daughter or everything would be even worse. Her mother would never let her marry the boy who tormented her during her school years.

Hermione blinked back her tears, stepping into the first fireplace she found and muttering her address.

Ginny was the first thing she saw once she appeared in her living room.

A sob burst from her and her friend ran to her, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"I'm so sorry, Hermione," Ginny whispered, holding her as she sobbed against her chest. "I'm really sorry."

She kept her arms around her until Hermione exhaled loudly.

"I brought wine."

Hermione lifted her head, sniffling and wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.

"White?"

Ginny smirked.

"And sparkling."

A watery smile spread across Hermione's face.

"You know me so well, Ginny."

Once Granger left, Potter sighed heavily and Draco glanced at him, the last words she had said spinning around his head.

"Is she serious?"

"If someone can do it is Hermione," he rubbed his scar, shrugging one of his shoulders. "But the Wizengamot won't change its mind. The risk of all the magical population disappearing in thirty years is too high."

"And they think mixing purebloods and Mudbloods is a great idea?" Draco snarled, his lips curling. "All the children will be squibs."

Potter's eyes flashed.

"Careful, Malfoy," his voice was almost a whisper. "Don't insult my friend again."

Draco glared harder and he took a step closer, looking him in the eye.

"If you try to hurt her…"

"I fucking can't," he laughed half-heartedly. "Our lives will be bound together. Hurting her will be like hurting myself."

Potter looked him up and down and sighed.

"I'll never understand how you can have so much in common with her," he shook his head and opened the door to follow Granger. "See you at the wedding."

Draco stood in the middle of the empty office as his breathing returned to normal.

His fucking wedding. He had to marry Hermione Granger.

And he had to agree with Potter on something. He couldn't understand the compatibility level the Ministry said that Granger and he shared.

It had to be a joke.