CHAPTER 19

Hermione hardly responded. She knew something like this was going to happen.

'I have asked Mr. Malfoy to come to my office in approximately five minutes,' Fudge continued. 'I'm telling him that due to public pressure we have had to prepone the wedding.'

'That's nice,' Hermione replied, despondently.

'Would you like your parents to be present?'

'I really don't care.'

'You can call inform them if so.'

'I have a mobile,' Lisa whispered. 'Use it.'

Hermione took the mobile, and hastily spoke to her parents.

'Yes mom...tomorrow...I'm sorry mom...public pressure...yes...you'll be there...oh, hold on.'

She turned to fudge.

'Where and when is it?" she asked, bluntly.

'Ivory Church, Diagon Alley, 9 AM,' he replied. 'You two will spend the night at the ministry.'

Hermione repeated all this to her mother and then hung up.

At that precise moment, there came a knock on the door.

'Come in.'

Draco Malfoy entered. He was dressed in a pair of baggy black jeans and tight fitting dark green T-shirt. His blond hair was all messed up, and he looked half asleep. When he saw Hermione, he threw her a lazy smile. Hermione smiled back.

'Good morning, Mr. Malfoy,' Fudge said, cordially.

'Good morning, Minister,' he replied. 'What happened?'

'It's about the Death eater attack,' Fudge informed him, after a pause. Hermione felt Draco stiffen a little. He didn't seem quite so relaxed.

'What about it?' Why did he sound so aggressive?

'Nothing, nothing,' Fudge said, airily. 'Only, because of public pressure, you're marriage to Ms. Granger has been preponed.'

Draco looked slightly vexed.

'To when?'

'Tomorrow.'

His reaction was as neutral as Hermione. It seemed he to had been fearing the worst.

'Right,' he replied.

'That's all, I suppose. Oh, and you shall be spending the night at the ministry.'

Draco just nodded. He did not ask why. Hermione thought she knew. He was under supervision.

'I shall have someone take you to your rooms,' Fudge said. He punched the bell, again, and a short, bald man, with blue eyes and a weary smile appeared.

'Good morning Chittle,' Fudge said. Would you show these officials their prepared room, please?'

'Room?' Hermione asked. 'We're sharing a room?"

Fudge threw her a warning look.

'Yes, you are,' he replied, 'Uh...we- don't have enough place.'

Draco obviously noticed his falter. He cocked his head to one side. Hermione nodded, chastened.

Chittle chuckled.

'Of course, Minister,' he said, 'you three- apparate with me.'

They did so, and found them selves in a long, dark corridor. Just in front of them was a heavy oak door. Chittle opened the door with the help of a large silver key, and entered. The other three followed him.

The room was large, the walls painted a soft shade of cream. There was soft burgundy carpeting underfoot. In one corner was a large double bed with a comfortable eiderdown folded on top and in another a single bed. With a tinge of amusement, Hermione noticed that the eiderdown on Malfoy's bed was soft and pink. Next to each bed was a bedside table, with a lamp, and night clothes folded on top. To the far end was a cupboard with snacks, a fridge, and even a minibar. There was another cupboard with stationary and a pack of cards.

'You may rest here till tomorrow morning,' Chittle said, quietly. 'You are not required at work today. The ministry has been shut down due to the attack. Now, if you'll excuse me- I have to attend to a group of semi-conscious reporters.'

He scurried away. Hermione, Lisa and Draco stared at each other, blankly for a few minutes. Blank silence buzzed in the room. Nobody said anything.

Draco opened his mouth.

'My eiderdown is pink,' he said, in an annoyed tone.

Lisa giggled. 'Here- take mine, if you want. It's red. Lord,' she flopped down on an armchair.

'What are we going to do today?'

'I suppose going shopping is out of the question,' Hermione said, wearily. 'We're practically locked in here.'

'You're wedding's tomorrow,' Lisa said, eyeing Hermione.

'I know,' Draco and Hermione said, together.

'Shouldn't you be beautifying yourself or something?'

Hermione shrugged. 'No. I don't.'

Lisa sighed. 'This is going to be a long, long day.'