A/N Sorry it's been so long between updates-life has been interfering. Also, I am going to be working with a beta-so you may see changes to previous chapters at some point. Hope you continue to enjoy. Hope you find that this chapter is worth the wait.
For the few who are unaware what the marriage law is, I apologize for not explaining it. The story goes that the Purebloods have intermarried so much that the bloodlines are getting weak. In order to have healthy children, the ministry has passed a law where the Pureblood wizards may offer for the muggleborn witches. The muggleborns have to accept the offer or they can no longer live in the wizarding world. I know it's rather unfair, but I take the attitude that Hermione would not want to become a boring muggle again.
Chapter 4
Hermione picked at her food. Draco watched her eat and felt bad that he was almost finished with his meal. He figured dessert would be out of the question. "Hermione, would you care for dessert when you are done?"
Hermione looked up at him. She was only days away from having to accept his offer and have her life ending, as she knew it and he wanted her to eat dessert? "No, I'll pass, thanks." She said with a hint of bitterness.
He sighed and pushed away his plate. "I can see that we are going to have to have this conversation now. I was hoping I could take you back to your flat and discuss it in a little more private place, especially after you see what would happen if you didn't accept my offer, but I can see that you will always continue to be the little Miss Know It All."
Hermione said quietly, "Draco, you and I have never gotten along. The only reason that I can think of that you would possibly want to have offered for me is to torment me and make me miserable like you always have. I do not want to accept your offer, but I may not have a choice. Go ahead, I would love to know your reasoning."
Draco stared at her. If only she knew how he really had felt all these years. But of course, because he was Slytherin and had to deal with his father, he couldn't reveal that he was in love with Hermione Granger, mudblood. He knew he couldn't blurt it out to her at this moment either, because he knew there was no way she returned his feelings. What a quandary, the Great Draco Malfoy, unable to get his heart's desire.
Suddenly music, yelling and jeers interrupted them. Draco flinched. This was the reason that he had brought her; to show her what humiliation could await her, if she was offered for by some other Pureblood wizard and she accepted purely to avoid him. He watched her face and saw the revulsion and disgust flash across her features as what she was seeing finally sank in. It appeared that the muggleborn women were to be the night's entertainment. Draco could stand it no longer. "Let's go." He growled. He threw his napkin on the table and grabbed her hand.
He pulled her out the side door that had been hidden by the plants and down a hallway towards the entrance. She pulled away from him as they neared the doorway. "How dare they!" She hissed, "Is that why the ministry passed this disgusting law? So that they could get their rocks off at their private clubs?"
"This is not the time or the place to discuss this," Draco hissed back at her.
He took her hand again and pulled her out the door to his carriage. He lifted her up into it, Hermione sputtering protests all the while.
"Will you shut up for one minute Hermione? You're making a spectacle of us." He said to her, after looking around and noticing that the men entering the club were staring at them.
He leaped up into the carriage after telling his driver to ride them around until Draco signaled to take them back to Hermione's flat. He leaned back in the seat and watched her splutter some more. Finally he could take it no longer. He grabbed her, pulled her next to him and pushed his lips against hers, knowing full well what her reaction would be. Sure enough, her hand swung and connected with his cheek.
"DRACO! HOW DARE YOU!" She yelled at him.
"It was the only way I could think of to shut you up at this point. Besides, we'll be doing it regularly soon enough." He gently sneered.
"That was utterly..." Draco leaned towards her and she immediately stopped, almost afraid that he might do it again.
"That's better, mudblood. We need to talk this out. I know you don't like me, but I want to spare you from that disgusting display. I know you have no reason to trust me and can't understand why I wouldn't subject you to that except in extremely necessary situations, but I offered for you for a reason and wrote the terms of my offer to back up that reason. I know for a fact that you are going to be getting an offer tomorrow from a former death eater. When you read the terms he offers you, believe me, you'll find that I am the far preferable choice."
Hermione stared at him feeling like a fish as she dug for words. "Why?"
"Why what? Why should you believe me? Why did I offer for you? Why did I offer you generous terms? Surely you aren't this non-specific with Pothead and Weasel." Draco said.
Hermione pondered his question. "Why me? Why do you think they are such generous terms? Why should I believe you?" She parroted back.
"Suffice it to say Hermione, you helped me when I need it the most. Obviously it was unknowingly or we wouldn't be having this conversation. The terms-wait until you receive your offer tomorrow, then you'll understand. Look, I know you don't want this, that you would rather die than marry Draco Malfoy of all people, but Hermione, it is with your best interests in mind. Hell, I even talked to Dumbledore and McGonagall before offering for you."
Hermione's mouth opened in shock. "You did? Why?"
"Because I want to protect you, like you did me." Draco said very quietly.
"I never protected you Draco. What game are you playing at? And why would Dumbledore and Minerva approve of this, knowing that you are a former death eater?" Hermione shot back at him.
"Hermione, I know you didn't know who it was, but remember when you were at the ministry as an operative during the war? You found out that the identity of a spy was going to be revealed and you prevented it from happening?"
Her eyes opened wide. "No, that wasn't you. You couldn't have been on our side."
Draco nodded his head "I became a member of the Order shortly before I received my mark during seventh year. I couldn't take my father anymore. I knew he and Voldemort had to be stopped. I approached Dumbledore and he talked me into becoming a spy. I didn't know about Snape at that time, but I was closer to the activities because of who my father was. I was never so happy as I was the day that sentenced Lucius to Akzaban for life."
Hermione's hand had lifted to her mouth. It was too much to take. Draco had been a spy and a member of the order? It couldn't be true.
"I'm going to take you home now. Obviously you will need to confirm my information. Also, I want you to compare my offer to the one you will receive tomorrow. Then we'll talk. I'll be at your place around 6:00 and I will bring dinner."
Hermione nodded her head. "Okay, I'll give you the benefit until tomorrow night."
Draco leaned his head out the window and asked his driver to head towards Hermione's place.
They reached her steps in a matter of minutes. Draco got out of the carriage and helped her down. He walked her to the door. She turned to him. "Don't even think about it Draco, not yet."
"Well, okay, Good night then Hermione, sleep well." Draco turned and walked down the stairs, fully aware that she was staring after him.
Hermione let herself into her flat. It was entirely too much to take in an evening, from the disgusting spectacle she had seen to Draco being a spy. He knew that all she had to do was send a few owls and confirm his facts. She wanted to send out those letters before she went to bed. Thank goodness Dumbledore and Minerva were at the same place, she wouldn't need to bug Harry to borrow Hedwig for the second message.
She sat down to write her letters. She took more time with Minerva's. Hermione knew that she would be more honest with her than Dumbledore would. She wrote about the offer then about the date they had and then about the revelation.
"Minerva, I need to know if what he has told me is true. I still can't bring myself to even want to consider Draco as a prospect, but if what he says is true, then I figure you and Dumbledore have reasons for me wanting to accept his offer. Please let me know right away as to what is going on, as we have another, well I'll say meeting, as I cannot bring myself to call it a date."
She re-read what she had written and signed it. She then sat down and wrote Dumbledore a brief note.
"Professor Dumbledore,
As you are well aware, I had a meeting with Draco Malfoy tonight and I wanted to confirm some facts that he imparted to me this evening. Primarily that he spoke to you regarding an offer of marriage for me and whether or not he was in the Order during the war with Voldemort. I appreciate your help in this matter. With warmest regards, Hermione."
She tied both notes to her owl and sent it off to Hogwarts, hoping it would make it back before she had to make a decision.
Having accomplished that, she went into her bedroom to spend a very restless night.
Draco leaned his head back against the carriage seat. He watched the owl fly off towards Hogwarts. He knew she wouldn't take him at his word, but he was almost glad that she hadn't. He signaled to his driver to take him home.
For the few who are unaware what the marriage law is, I apologize for not explaining it. The story goes that the Purebloods have intermarried so much that the bloodlines are getting weak. In order to have healthy children, the ministry has passed a law where the Pureblood wizards may offer for the muggleborn witches. The muggleborns have to accept the offer or they can no longer live in the wizarding world. I know it's rather unfair, but I take the attitude that Hermione would not want to become a boring muggle again.
Chapter 4
Hermione picked at her food. Draco watched her eat and felt bad that he was almost finished with his meal. He figured dessert would be out of the question. "Hermione, would you care for dessert when you are done?"
Hermione looked up at him. She was only days away from having to accept his offer and have her life ending, as she knew it and he wanted her to eat dessert? "No, I'll pass, thanks." She said with a hint of bitterness.
He sighed and pushed away his plate. "I can see that we are going to have to have this conversation now. I was hoping I could take you back to your flat and discuss it in a little more private place, especially after you see what would happen if you didn't accept my offer, but I can see that you will always continue to be the little Miss Know It All."
Hermione said quietly, "Draco, you and I have never gotten along. The only reason that I can think of that you would possibly want to have offered for me is to torment me and make me miserable like you always have. I do not want to accept your offer, but I may not have a choice. Go ahead, I would love to know your reasoning."
Draco stared at her. If only she knew how he really had felt all these years. But of course, because he was Slytherin and had to deal with his father, he couldn't reveal that he was in love with Hermione Granger, mudblood. He knew he couldn't blurt it out to her at this moment either, because he knew there was no way she returned his feelings. What a quandary, the Great Draco Malfoy, unable to get his heart's desire.
Suddenly music, yelling and jeers interrupted them. Draco flinched. This was the reason that he had brought her; to show her what humiliation could await her, if she was offered for by some other Pureblood wizard and she accepted purely to avoid him. He watched her face and saw the revulsion and disgust flash across her features as what she was seeing finally sank in. It appeared that the muggleborn women were to be the night's entertainment. Draco could stand it no longer. "Let's go." He growled. He threw his napkin on the table and grabbed her hand.
He pulled her out the side door that had been hidden by the plants and down a hallway towards the entrance. She pulled away from him as they neared the doorway. "How dare they!" She hissed, "Is that why the ministry passed this disgusting law? So that they could get their rocks off at their private clubs?"
"This is not the time or the place to discuss this," Draco hissed back at her.
He took her hand again and pulled her out the door to his carriage. He lifted her up into it, Hermione sputtering protests all the while.
"Will you shut up for one minute Hermione? You're making a spectacle of us." He said to her, after looking around and noticing that the men entering the club were staring at them.
He leaped up into the carriage after telling his driver to ride them around until Draco signaled to take them back to Hermione's flat. He leaned back in the seat and watched her splutter some more. Finally he could take it no longer. He grabbed her, pulled her next to him and pushed his lips against hers, knowing full well what her reaction would be. Sure enough, her hand swung and connected with his cheek.
"DRACO! HOW DARE YOU!" She yelled at him.
"It was the only way I could think of to shut you up at this point. Besides, we'll be doing it regularly soon enough." He gently sneered.
"That was utterly..." Draco leaned towards her and she immediately stopped, almost afraid that he might do it again.
"That's better, mudblood. We need to talk this out. I know you don't like me, but I want to spare you from that disgusting display. I know you have no reason to trust me and can't understand why I wouldn't subject you to that except in extremely necessary situations, but I offered for you for a reason and wrote the terms of my offer to back up that reason. I know for a fact that you are going to be getting an offer tomorrow from a former death eater. When you read the terms he offers you, believe me, you'll find that I am the far preferable choice."
Hermione stared at him feeling like a fish as she dug for words. "Why?"
"Why what? Why should you believe me? Why did I offer for you? Why did I offer you generous terms? Surely you aren't this non-specific with Pothead and Weasel." Draco said.
Hermione pondered his question. "Why me? Why do you think they are such generous terms? Why should I believe you?" She parroted back.
"Suffice it to say Hermione, you helped me when I need it the most. Obviously it was unknowingly or we wouldn't be having this conversation. The terms-wait until you receive your offer tomorrow, then you'll understand. Look, I know you don't want this, that you would rather die than marry Draco Malfoy of all people, but Hermione, it is with your best interests in mind. Hell, I even talked to Dumbledore and McGonagall before offering for you."
Hermione's mouth opened in shock. "You did? Why?"
"Because I want to protect you, like you did me." Draco said very quietly.
"I never protected you Draco. What game are you playing at? And why would Dumbledore and Minerva approve of this, knowing that you are a former death eater?" Hermione shot back at him.
"Hermione, I know you didn't know who it was, but remember when you were at the ministry as an operative during the war? You found out that the identity of a spy was going to be revealed and you prevented it from happening?"
Her eyes opened wide. "No, that wasn't you. You couldn't have been on our side."
Draco nodded his head "I became a member of the Order shortly before I received my mark during seventh year. I couldn't take my father anymore. I knew he and Voldemort had to be stopped. I approached Dumbledore and he talked me into becoming a spy. I didn't know about Snape at that time, but I was closer to the activities because of who my father was. I was never so happy as I was the day that sentenced Lucius to Akzaban for life."
Hermione's hand had lifted to her mouth. It was too much to take. Draco had been a spy and a member of the order? It couldn't be true.
"I'm going to take you home now. Obviously you will need to confirm my information. Also, I want you to compare my offer to the one you will receive tomorrow. Then we'll talk. I'll be at your place around 6:00 and I will bring dinner."
Hermione nodded her head. "Okay, I'll give you the benefit until tomorrow night."
Draco leaned his head out the window and asked his driver to head towards Hermione's place.
They reached her steps in a matter of minutes. Draco got out of the carriage and helped her down. He walked her to the door. She turned to him. "Don't even think about it Draco, not yet."
"Well, okay, Good night then Hermione, sleep well." Draco turned and walked down the stairs, fully aware that she was staring after him.
Hermione let herself into her flat. It was entirely too much to take in an evening, from the disgusting spectacle she had seen to Draco being a spy. He knew that all she had to do was send a few owls and confirm his facts. She wanted to send out those letters before she went to bed. Thank goodness Dumbledore and Minerva were at the same place, she wouldn't need to bug Harry to borrow Hedwig for the second message.
She sat down to write her letters. She took more time with Minerva's. Hermione knew that she would be more honest with her than Dumbledore would. She wrote about the offer then about the date they had and then about the revelation.
"Minerva, I need to know if what he has told me is true. I still can't bring myself to even want to consider Draco as a prospect, but if what he says is true, then I figure you and Dumbledore have reasons for me wanting to accept his offer. Please let me know right away as to what is going on, as we have another, well I'll say meeting, as I cannot bring myself to call it a date."
She re-read what she had written and signed it. She then sat down and wrote Dumbledore a brief note.
"Professor Dumbledore,
As you are well aware, I had a meeting with Draco Malfoy tonight and I wanted to confirm some facts that he imparted to me this evening. Primarily that he spoke to you regarding an offer of marriage for me and whether or not he was in the Order during the war with Voldemort. I appreciate your help in this matter. With warmest regards, Hermione."
She tied both notes to her owl and sent it off to Hogwarts, hoping it would make it back before she had to make a decision.
Having accomplished that, she went into her bedroom to spend a very restless night.
Draco leaned his head back against the carriage seat. He watched the owl fly off towards Hogwarts. He knew she wouldn't take him at his word, but he was almost glad that she hadn't. He signaled to his driver to take him home.