CHAPTER 3
The next morning, when Hermione opened her eyes, it took her a moment to realize why she was feeling so depressed. Then all of a sudden it hit her.
I'm going to marry Draco Malfoy is one months time.
She groan ed loudly and pulled her pillow closer, repeating the words in her brain. Draco Malfoy...Draco Malfoy...
'Hermione, are you awake?'
Her eyes popped open as Lisa's voice floated through the locked door.
'Um...yeah,' she muttered, in a sleep-laden voice.
'Oh good. You have a visitor. Come on out.'
Groaning again, Hermione threw the covers off and checked the mirror. Her eyes were red, her hair a mess, and she was dressed in nothing but a white button up nightshirt, but she didn't care. She flung open the door-
To reveal a neatly dressed Fudge, bowler and all, rapping his knuckles together. Upon seeing her, he raised his eyebrows.
'Ah...Ms. Granger,' he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
'Um..yes...minister...can I help you?"
'Yes, indeed. Quickly get dressed and come with me...' his voice trailed off, and then, in answer to her questioning look- 'unless you want to meet your future mother-in-law dressed in a white nightshirt.'
All of a sudden, Hermione felt like she couldn't breathe. After gasping a bit and choking in a lungful of air, she managed- 'We're going to see Narcissa Malfoy?'
'So it seems,' Fudge said, throwing her a dirty look.
Hermione quickly shut the door, and rushed to her wardrobe. She wasn't in any mood to impress her future mother-in-law, so she just threw on a pair of jeans, a blouse and bundled her hair into a net. When she came out, however, Fudge began to splutter in disgust.
'Ms. Granger! Please do not tell me you intent to visit the Malfoy Manor like this? For heaven's sake, girl, put on a suit! And do something with your hair!'
Flushing furiously, Hermione ducked into her room again, and this time dressed in a tan colored skirt with a jacket of the same color and a white shirt. She slipped her feet into a pair of pencil heels, hastily drew her eyes, and after muttering a charm to straighten her hair, tied it in an elegant knot at the back of her hair. When she went out, Fudge looked slightly appeased.
'Much better,' he said, 'Now, we are going to apparate to the manor. Please be on your best behavior- do remember that you are currently bearing a hugr responsibility.'
'yes minister.'
'Excellent. Come on.'
He caught hold of her arm and both of them quickly apparated to the Malfoy Manor. They found themselved standing on a large, well-kept lawn. In the distance, they could see a gravel driveway, and a large gray manor. Hermione shivered slightly when she saw it. It filled her with a sense of foreboding.
'the Malfoy Manor,' Fudge said, curtly, and then beagn walking briskly over the crisp grass. Hermione hastened to follow them. As the neared the manor, she could make out a stone table, four stone chairs, and tea set out for fourin the distant rose garden. A tall, blonde woman, with an upturned nose and sweet smile approached them. Her crisp, blue, high-waisted gown and sharp heels made Hermione thankful that she was dressed formally.
'Good morning, minister,' she said, politely, 'Ms. Granger,'
'Good morning, Mrs. Malfoy,' Fudge said, heartily shaking hands. Hermione noted that Draco's mother withdrew her well manicured hands away from fudge's rather quickly.
'Please do come to the rose garden,' she said, cordially. 'I had the house elves lay out some tea and crumpets.'
At the word house-elf, Hermione flinched. She followed Narcissa and Fudge down the gravel path to the stone table and sat down. The other to also took seats.
'Draco will be here in a minute,' narcissa said, in an apologetic tone. Hermione froze.
'What! Malfoy's gonna be here?'
Fudge frowned at her.
'Of course, Ms. Granger. What did you expect.'
Hermione blushed.
'I thought he would be- at- uh, work,' she said, quickly, and then smiled sweetly at Narcissa who smiled dubiously back.
'I'll just call him,' she said, after a minute of impatient waiting. Tilting her chair back, she called loudly, 'Draco! Come on down!'
'Wat!' a rude voice called from upstiras. Narcissa sighed.
'I'll just go bring him,' she said, softly and then left to find her son.
Hermione raised her eyebrows at Fudge.
'You told him?'
'Uh..yes. Unfortunately, he didn't seem to take the news very well,' Fudge said, lowering his eyes. 'He threw a bit of a fit. Said that the new Law was just a feeble attempt to ruin his life, in fact,'
'Spoiled brat,' Hermione muttered, under her breath. Fortunately, Fudge didn't seem to here.
'Anyway, he doesn't seem to be suspicious for the real reason...yet... remember the key, Ms. Granger, Constant viligance, as Alastor says.'
'Of course,' Hermione said, dully. 'But is the marriage final? I mean, if Draco disagreed...'
'Unfortunately the future of your marriage is not in either of your hands,' Fudge said, coldly. 'It is mine. And it's final- you're getting married in four weeks time.'
Hermione sighed and brought a hand to her face. Thought whirled past her mind. Every single ray of hope that she had had vanished. She was getting married to Draco Malfoy.
Hey, maybe this isn't so bad. We'll get married...so what? Maybe he's changed, and he's not mean anymore. Maybe-
'What's the matter, Granger? Ashamed to show your ugly face?'
Hermione uttered a long-suffering sigh and lowered her hand. She raised her eyes and met malfoy's cold, icy gaze.
'Good morning Malfoy,' she said, dully.
Draco was leaning against one of the chairs, dressed in a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt. He raised his eyebrows at Hermione's formal attire.
'What came here looking for a job?' he asked, cuttingly. To Hermione's surprise, Narcissa hardly did anything to inform Draco that he was being distinctly rude. Instead, she just pursed hr lips and looked sourly at Hermione.
'hello Draco,' Fudge said, warmly, as though he hand't heard any of the less-than-polite greetings between the to be groom and bride. 'Please, have a seat.'
'I prefer to stand thank you,' Draco said, icily. Fudge raised his eyebrows.
'Very well. I'm sure you know why you're here?'
'No, do tell me,' Draco said, with mock politeness. Fudge took him seriously.
'because in four weeks you are going to be getting married to Hermione Granger. I have explained the conditions, of course.'
'what if I refuse?' Malfoy asked, angrily. Mentally, Hermione rolled her eyes.
'Then you will be fired,' Fudge said, dryly. Draco's mouth snapped shut and he ogled Fudge with fury.
'We've been through this before, mr. Malfoy. This new law that I have passed today is to ensure that we will not remain weak during Voldemort's reign.'
Hermione tried despertale to read Draco's expression at that statement. However, his face remained a mask.
Either he's really good at acting, or I'm marrying a jerk for no reason, she thought, angrily.
'Draco sit down and eat a crumpet,' Narcissa said, suddenly, waving her hand towards the eatables on the table. Immediately, Draco's eyes filled with respect. He sat and obediatently bit into a crumpet. He shot a very dirty look at Hermione.
'hey, don't think I'm raving with delight over this arrangement,' Hermione warned, 'I'm just doing it because I believe what Voldemort is doing is very wrong and that if the minister thinks that this will help then it's my duty to do it.'
This tactful statement made Fudge glow with warm approval towards her and Draco flinch at the name Voldemort. Narcissa's expression, however, remained passive.
After a little small talk ( where do you work in the minitry, Hermione?) Fudge rose.
'I think it's time we departed,' he said, civilly. 'However, before I leave...there is, I am afraid, one last formality...'
he reached in his pocket and pulled out two gold rings with diamonds...one he handed to Hermione and one to Draco.
'We have to exchange rings!' Hermione gasped. Draco sneered.
'of course, Granger. What did you expect?'
Hermione threw him a a look of utter loathing which he fully returned. Fudge cleared his throat impatiently.
'Yes, you will have to exchange rings,,' he said, curtly. Narcissa watched silently from nearby.
Hermione sighed, and looked expectantly at Draco.
'What?' he asked, roughly.
'Hold out your hand,' she said, impatiently.
He held it out with a sullen expression, and screwing her face up, Hermione slipped the ring onto his finger. She opened her eyes, and stared at the ring on his finger- it filled her with a sense of deep regret.
'Uh...Draco...if you please,' Fudge said, staring pointedly at Draco.
Hermione sighed and held out her ahdn. With surprising gentleness, Draco slipped the ring onto her finger. He looked slightly sick.
'Well, now that we're done with that,' Fudge said, warmly. 'Ms. Granger, you will be coming with me to the Ministry so that you may get to work in your department. This evening, you two shall be dining together, so as to get to know each other,'
Hermione nodded numbly. I've just gotten engaged to Draco Malfoy.
"well, If we're done with that,' Fudge said, 'come along, ms. Garnger. Goodbye, Mrs. Malfoy...Draco.'
'Good morning minister,' Narcissa said, coldly.
