Disclaimer: No, I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, I would be rich and I would have more than 10 worth of savings. Nah, I'm just borrowing them for a while to entertain myself and hopefully others.
Title: At the Beat of a HammerChapter Three
It was only seven o'clock in the morning but Hermione was already in the library, pouring over several books at once. It was like any other Saturday morning when the girl would wake up at the brick of dawn, rush up to her favorite room in the castle, and get a head start on her weekend homework. This time around she had an important essay about the XII Goblin War for History of Magic. Professor Binns had expected two scrolls turned in by Monday, but like always Hermione was already ahead of that number and was still far from being done. Such was expected of her. At the moment, she was halfway into a paragraph where she described the death of a general.
That's when Professor McGonnagall, the Transfiguration teacher and the head of Gryffindor house, had found her. The scroll she was currently writing on was almost completely hidden from view by the sixth-year's bushy hair. The professor cleared her throat in order to get the student's attention, "Miss Granger?"
However, the girl was working too intently on the report, so Professor McGonnagall had to repeat herself twice more.
Hermione looked up from the assignment, a fire of interest burning bright in the core of her eyes as she finally noticed that she wasn't alone. "Oh, I'm sorry Professor. I didn't know you were here. It's quite fascinating to read about these later goblin wars, I guess I got caught up in it."
The girl hadn't changed much over the years, or at least not to the point where you could easily point out the change. She still had the dark brown hair that, despite its bushiness, looked like dark chocolate with honey streaks. Hermione's eyes were whirlpools of amber that trapped thoughts and ideas like their color's namesake, keeping them forever suspended in place. Her skin was tan and had an even tone to it, only interrupted by a few scattered freckles sprawled over the bridge of her nose. The girl was always hidden behind the loose, shapeless Hogwarts uniform, so nothing could be said about her body.
When the teacher stood silently over her, Hermione began to worry. "What's wrong Professor? Am I in trouble? Did something happen to Harry? Did I fail an exam?" A look of raw panic crossed her face at the last two questions she asked.
"No no, Miss Granger. Mr. Potter is alive and well, asleep in his bed. And there haven't been any exams these past two weeks, so there wasn't anything you could have failed." However, the grave look on McGonnagall's face didn't vanish as she spoke the words that were meant to comfort her number one student. That worried Hermione, but she didn't rush the news anymore because it only seemed to cause delay.
"Miss Granger, if you would please go up to the Headmaster's office I believe he has something to tell you. It is not as extreme as the examples you provided, but it is something that you should know about."
"I have to put all of these books away, Professor. Not to mention go back to the dormitory and put my things away." Even as she said it, Hermione began to pack up her belongings. Although she was rushing, she still took enough time in order to put each item back the correct way.
"No need to do either of those things, Miss Granger. I will take care of the cleaning and I will see that your things are brought back up to your dormitory. You just worry about getting to the Headmaster's office quickly, the news is urgent." Professor McGonnagall emphasized her words with a curt nod.
"Yes, yes, that's what I should do." Hermione seemed disoriented without her books but she rushed out of the library. There were all sorts of important things that Dumbledore might want to tell her, and she didn't want to keep him waiting. Time was precious, she realized that early in her third year when she had to get around using a time turner.
After five minutes of running up stairs and down hallways she was finally moving on the stairs that lead to Dumbledore's office. She walked into the room and found the Headmaster already waiting for her with a cups of tea set out for the both of them. "I'm sorry Professor that it took me so long to get here…" Hermione started apologizing as she sat down across the table from the Headmaster.
"No need to apologize, Miss Granger." He said in his usual calm manner, taking a sip of his tea. "Butterscotch Worm?"
"No thank you Professor." Hermione took a polite sip from her own cup while staring intently at the Headmaster, waiting for the information that she came for to be given to her.
"Well, we better get right to the point because it wouldn't do anyone any good for you to miss the departure for Hogsmeade. However, before we begin I would like to ask you to promise me that you will hold your questions while I speak so you get the complete story. Can you do that Miss Granger?"
Hermione nodded, taking another sip of the tea to calm herself. She didn't know what this news could be, but judging by how Dumbledore was acting it was something important.
"Very well. The Ministry of Magic has given an order that involves you." Even with this first sentence, the Headmaster could see the color drain from Hermione's face. "You have been chosen, for a variety of reason I believe, to wed a pureblooded wizard. His is partly so you can lead the wizarding world into its new era, a time when muggle-born witches and wizards would be treated just as well as those who are pureblooded, I hope. Also this flow of events is needed to end the pure lineage of a certain family. The Ministry believes that this is ultimately necessary and they picked the best person to help them achieve their goals, a smart girl who is of the same age as the only son of the man who is being punished by this. It is an honor, but a curse at the same time. I would not wish it upon anyone, but I am afraid that this cannot be changed since they have pronounced it a First-Degree Law, meaning that by breaking it you would condemn yourself to be kissed by a Dementor. All in all, it is a complicated fate that they have chosen for you. I do not know why or how they came to this conclusion, I received only the minimal information."
Dumbledore finished his speech, shaking his head in disapproval of what he had just spoke of.
"I-I understand Professor. It is important to the Ministry and I had always wanted to do something useful." Hermione was trying to convince herself that death isn't worse then what was coming up in her future. "I just want to know, who is the person I have to marry?" Her voice became softer and softer as she spoke the sentence, clearly not wanting the answer to this but at the same time needing it.
"The person that you will have…"
The Headmaster's words were interrupted by the sound of the door flying open. Inside stormed in a very pissed off Malfoy who was glaring intensely at Hermione. She despised the Slytherin, she wanted him to burn in the lowest level of hell, and she hated the fact that he interrupted the most important part of her meeting with Dumbledore. Now she'd hate to wait for him to leave before hearing the name of the person she was betrothed to. Surely Professor Dumbledore wouldn't say it in front of the Bouncing Ferret.
But that was exactly what happened.
"The person that you will have to marry, Miss Granger, is Mr. Draco Malfoy."
The silence dawned onto the room, but it was soon interrupted by the breaking of china as Hermione lost her grip on the cup of tea in her hand.
AN: I'm sorry it took me so long to get this chapter up, but I had a ton of homework and apparently I can't let my grades slip. Thank you so much for reviewing : SilverSun3 and Gothhottie. And all of the people who added me to their author alert list, I thank you as well. Now, it's time to review. ;
-Brokken