Courting Miss Granger-Chapter 3- Birthday Wishes

By Marmalade Fever

They hadn't spoken for about half an hour. Both of them were still feeling very odd about the situation. If anyone had ever told them that they would be dating for eleven whole months, they'd have said they were insane. The possibility of marriage though, that was different. That was just plain shocking. They hated each other. They always had and had thought that they always would. What would their friends say? Hermione knew that if Harry or Ron heard about this, they'd say that she should simply let the git go to his doom. Still though, there was that vulnerability in his eyes that wouldn't let her do any such thing. He needed her. Like it or not, she had to at least try...

"Are you free Friday?" Malfoy said, breaking the silence at last. They had each just finished eating a piece of tiramisu, and the waiter had gone to get their bill.

"What time?"

"Eight o'clock. My parents are throwing me a birthday bash. My father said to, I mean, I wanted to invite you."

"It's okay to say that your father's forcing you to invite me. I wouldn't expect you to want me there so soon," Hermione said, head whirling at the very idea.

"So, can you come?"

"I suppose..."

"Good. It's at my house. I'll, er, pick you up if you want."

"No, no. I can apparate there just fine."

"Actually you can't. I don't know if you've ever read Hogwarts: A History, but you can't apparate onto the grounds. The Malfoy Manor is the same."

"Alright then, I'll be at my house. Need directions?"

Malfoy looked uneasy. "I know where you live."

"You do?"

"Er, yeah. I tagged my owl with a spell that allowed me to see exactly where he delivered that letter to."

"Huh... Okay, then. I'll see you Friday." She got up and was about to leave, but he stopped her.

"It'll be formal. I'd wear dress robes if I were you."

"Okay," she said sidling away.

"And, Granger? I mean, Hermione...?"

"Yes?" she said, cheeks flushing slightly at his effort to be civil.

"You don't have to bring a gift." It looked to her like this was not what he had originally meant to say. She shrugged it off.

"Bye... Draco..."

"Bye."

...

Friday seemed to come amazingly quickly. Hermione had gotten herself a pair of dress robes, though she thought the price a tad high, and taken the effort to use Sleakeasy's Hair Formula. Yesterday she had had an encounter with Mrs. Weasley and had a very odd conversation trying to explain why she couldn't come to dinner the next night. Luckily for her, she didn't run into Ron or Harry during the week.

At a quarter to eight she sat in her living room, feeling very nervous. What if this all turned out to be a nasty trick? She would be going to the Malfoy residence, after all. She didn't exactly get along well with any of them. She breathed slowly as the minutes ticked by. If he didn't come soon, they'd be late... How exactly were they to get there without apparating, anyway? Surely he didn't have a car? If it were floo powder, it certainly wouldn't have been necessary for him to come...

At 7:58 she heard a dull thud on her stoop. Knocking resounded through the flat and she sat up quickly to answer the door. Draco Malfoy stood outside next to a magic carpet.

"Hello... Miss Granger," Malfoy said, choosing his words carefully. He was wearing a pair of silver dress robes that matched his eyes, which seemed to flick up and down for a moment, as if he were looking at the effect of her dressing up. If he were impressed, he hid it amazingly well.

"Aren't flying carpets illegal?"

"Only if you get caught."

Hermione rolled her eyes. "Okay, we better get going then..." To her disbelief, he grabbed hold of her hand and led her onto the carpet. They sat down lightly.

"Hold on," Malfoy said, and Hermione noticed that there were a pair of exceptionally long tassels hanging over the side for her to hold on to. Instantly, they rose up into the air and over the clouds. It was a beautiful night and the air whipped past them, making her squint. The city lights below flashed by and in less than a minute, they were landing again on a very, very large lawn. Hermione could hardly believe it. The Malfoy Manor was huge! It looked nearly twice as large as Hogwarts. There were turrets and flags everywhere. It was gorgeous. They walked nimbly over the lawn past hundreds of exotic plants. Hermione thought wistfully that Neville Longbottom would have a field day here.

Malfoy had not given her a second look but simply led her toward the very large, very expensive looking doors. A solemn looking house-elf was standing to the side of it. It looked a great deal like Dobby, and she was sure it must be related to him. S.P.E.W. flashed through her head for a moment, but that could be dealt with later... Dealt with later? Was she seriously thinking that this might last? She shivered.

They walked into the house and down several hallways before they began to hear the excited voices of people at a birthday party. Hermione felt her heart leap into her throat. Who all would be here?

"Come on," Malfoy said, gesturing to a door he was holding open for her. She walked through, feeling antsy. As she did so, the voices died abruptly.

"Granger? What's the MUDBLOOD doing here?" Hermione could have recognized the voice of Pansy Parkinson anywhere. It suddenly occurred to her that she must be married, if she were ineligible for marriage to Malfoy.

"Ladies and gentlemen," a voice carried across the room, though it was hardly louder than a hiss, "may I introduce to you my future daughter-in-law." Lucius Malfoy was holding a champagne flute, and Hermione could hear Draco groan from behind her. The rest of the room started whispering rapidly. Future daughter-in-law? She hadn't agreed to anything yet!

"Draco, DRACO!" Pansy Parkinson came speeding toward them, husband in tow. He was a skeletal looking man with very dark lashes against nearly yellow eyes. "What's this all about?"

"Malfoy Marriage Contract..." Draco muttered, though very quietly. His eyes flashed to Hermione, lest she should take offense.

"He has to marry me in order to stay rich and alive," she said, sighing. "I haven't agreed though... of course." The skeletal man was looking at her as if she were amazing. She unconsciously moved closer to Malfoy, though she didn't know why that should make her feel safer.

"Personally, I'd risk it!" Pansy said, fuming. She and her husband walked away, much to Hermione's relief.

"Come on, we'd better greet Father..." Malfoy said, grumbling about how embarrassing this whole thing was. They moved through the crowd and up to Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy. Hermione had only seen Mrs. Malfoy once. This time she looked teary-eyed and was mumbling something about "how he's all grown up."

"So this is the elusive Miss Granger?" Lucius Malfoy said, very slowly. His eyes seemed to flicker over her as well, and again she unconsciously moved closer to Draco.

"We've met before," Hermione said, forcing her voice not to falter.

"I haven't forgotten..." he said, looking positively lethal. She felt very exposed for some reason. If anyone wanted revenge on her, this would be an excellent moment. "But as the situation has befallen us... it seems best to put such things aside." He paused, as if considering his words. "Though, I must warn you, Miss, that it would be in your interest to... cooperate."

"You're threatening me, aren't you?" Hermione blurted out.

"Why, yes, of course I am... Surely you would expect me to want to ensure my son and only heir's future?"

Hermione felt herself pale. How could she have ever thought that she'd have a choice in the matter? Draco gave her meaningful look. "And what if somebody else decides to do me in first?"

"Why, I'll take every possible measure to ensure your safety. Meaning, that if anyone here goes near you, he'll be dead before the spell hits... Now children, I think it would be best for you two to mingle. Look, there's Severus! Why not go over and say hello?" Sure enough, Snape was over in a corner, looking very bored. She felt Malfoy put his hand on her shoulder and lead her toward him.

"Good evening, Professor," Malfoy said. For the first time since they'd been reunited, Hermione could hear the old sleekness in his voice.

"Hello Mr. Malfoy... Miss Granger," he said, nodding to each of them. "So, what is all this about in-laws, I hear?" Malfoy explained it to him while Hermione looked down. There was no getting out of it now. She now felt how Malfoy must, that the choice was between marriage and sure death. She looked up at Snape as Malfoy finished his explanation. There was a gleam in his eye. "Well, well... That's a very interesting predicament. I assume that Lucius is taking all precautions to ensure this marriage?"

"Yes," Hermione said.

"Then I wish the two of you a long and happy marriage... I'm not sure which of you I feel more sorry for..."

He feels sorry for me? Hermione couldn't help but think. After all, though, Snape wasn't completely evil. He would probably know what it felt like to be forced to interact with horrible people too. He had, after all, been in nearly the same predicament with the death-eaters. But then there was the sorry towards Malfoy as well... She really didn't know how to take the comment.

The sound of a spoon tapping against glass resounded throughout the room. "Time for presents!" Malfoy's face lit up and he steered her through the room and up to a table that was simply loaded with gifts. Harry had told her once about the presents that his cousin got every year, but this surely exceeded that number by eight times. Malfoy sat down, and gift after gift was handed to him. One of his servants continually used a vanishing charm to get rid of the paper. The whole process took no less than three hours, during which time, Hermione simply sat looking blankly on. When the mountain had finally come to an end an enormous birthday cake was brought over. The whole thing seemed ablaze by the candles. Malfoy listened cheerily to the singing and flashed his eyes over at her. The second seemed to last for an eternity before he closed his eyes and blew out the candles. At that moment, Hermione made her own birthday wish. That if she should end up marrying him, that it would at least be happy. Unbeknownst to her, Malfoy had wished the same.