Dueling with Fate

Chapter 3: Questions and Answers

Summary: Hermione and Malfoy get caught by Professor McGonagall, dueling in the halls. Professor McGonagall is tired of the bickering and fights, so she takes them to Dumbledore who agrees to allow McGonagall give them a punishment, neither of them will forget.

Author's Note: Thank you to Em & Halle who beta-read this chapter for me. I just slightly re-edited this chapter. Also thank you to Random One who came up with this brilliant story idea. And sorryfor taking a little while to re-post this.I promise to updateas often as I can.

The day that Malfoy and Hermione had been dreading finally came. Getting up as early as possible, Hermione made her way past the Great Hall, and through the corridors that were starting to bustle with people heading to breakfast. She walked briskly heading towards Dumbledore's office. Upon arriving, she knocked on the door and heard the Headmaster summon her in.

Peering inside, she saw the aged wizard sitting behind his desk. "Please, come in Miss Granger."

"Professor Dumbledore," Hermione stated slowly, picking each word carefully, "I've had a question on my mind for quite awhile now. Why did you agree to allow Professor McGonagall to punish us that way? I mean, sure we are enemies, but isn't that kind of an extreme for such a punishment."

Hermione took a seat in one of the two chairs placed directly in front of Dumbledore's desk.

"Well you see, Draco Malfoy is a Pureblood, and you, on the other hand, are a Muggle born. Am I correct?" Hermione nodded, Dumbledore continued. "You two are enemies. He despises you because of what his father has taught him. And, since Voldemort has had his downfall, I think we should work more on inter-house relationships, and the ministry does not believe that a purebloods and muggleborns can live together, so I would like to prove them wrong. You two are some of the brightest wizards I have ever had the fortune to meet," Dumbledore explained.

There was a knock on the door. "Come in. Ah, yes Mr. Malfoy, how nice of you to join us."

Hermione heard Malfoy mumble something that sounded an awful lot like, "Did I have a choice?"

Malfoy walked over to the chair opposite of Hermione, plopping down with a sour look on his face. "So what exactly are we going to do?"

"Well, as soon as Professor McGonagall arrives here we may begin. And here she is," Dumbledore said as the elderly witch came in, dressed in an emerald colored robe.

"Both of you students know why you are here. Now, the time period you will need to remain married is a year and half." When Professor McGonagall said that, both Hermione's and Malfoy's jaws dropped to the floor.

"WHAT?" Hermione shouted and rose from her chair, before she could stop herself.

"Do not make me extend the time period," McGonagall stated sharply, and Hermione immediately fell back into her seat. "Now, we have already picked a residence out for you. You will live there during this time."

"Anything else we should know?" Hermione asked reluctantly, afraid to find out another horrifying piece of information.

"No that will be all. Your parents have already been informed of the 'project'. You are not to tell anyone but your closest friends that this is not a real marriage. Understand? Good." With that last word, McGonagall rose and left the two utterly depressed students.

"You may go now, if you please," Dumbledore said kindly.

Hermione nodded her head and almost ran out of his office and down the stairs. She ran into a corridor that had Ron and Harry leaning up against a wall.

"Hey, Hermione, over here!" Harry shouted as he waved his arms, trying to catch her attention.

"Hey," Hermione said, looking awfully miserable.

"Well, what did you find out?" Ron asked impatiently.

"Nothing good, I have to be married to him for a year and half." As Hermione said this she began to cry. Harry opened his arms to give her a hug and a shoulder to cry into.

Harry began," It's alright, 'Mione. We'll come and visit everyday, and if Malfoy lays one of his slimy little hands on your head we'll--"

"What? Take everything else I own away? Destroy what little bit I have left?" Malfoy asked, looking thoroughly appalled.

"Don't hurt her," Harry threatened.

"Why not? Why shouldn't I take away one of the most important things you own? You took away mine," Malfoy responded coldly.

"Are you talking about me killing your dad?" Harry asked cautiously.

"Maybe," Malfoy said as he stormed off, in a fouler mood than he had been when he had left Dumbledore's office.

"Git," Ron said under his breath.

Yeah," Harry said as he stared at Malfoy’s retreating body. "If he hurts Hermione, I'll hex him so badly."

"I'm right behind you with that, mate," Ron said as he started to head back to the Gryffindor common room. "You coming?"

"Yes, come, let's go," Harry put his arm out for Hermione to grab onto.

"Alright, I really need to talk to Ginny," Hermione said as she latched onto Harry's arm.

"Ginny I have to be married to the prat for a year and half. That is, if I live that long. He threatened to kill me,"Hermione explained to her best friend.

"Well, at least he's a good looking prat."

"NOT HELPING!" Hermione screamed, throwing her hands up into the air, and then squatting in a ball and beginning to sob.

"I'm sorry," Ginny began, as she came and sat by Hermione's shaking figure.

"It's alright," Hermione said, lifting her tear stained face. "I'm just really scared. That's all."

"Why? You could hex his sorry butt to the moon and back before he could hurt you. You know that," Ginny said as she embraced Hermione in a hug.

"Yes, I could do something like that,' Hermione said, beginning to giggle softly.

"Let's go on down to dinner for the final feast. It's your last night at Hogwarts, you shouldn't be crying."

"Oh my goodness, you're right!" Hermione exclaimed, as her eyes began to water some more. "I'm leaving this place."

"That was supposed to get you to stop crying."

"Oops!" Hermione said as she laughed softly to herself.

The two girls made their way down to the lavishly decorated Great Hall.

"Over here!" Hermione heard someone call. Looking up she saw Harry and Ron waving frantically at her and Ginny.

Ginny ran over and sat on Harry's lap, and gave him a kiss on his soft cheeks. Hermione sat in between Harry and Ron.

"Here, got you some presents," Ron said as he handed Hermione a bulging bag.

"Ronald Weasley. You snuck into Hogsmeade, didn't you?" Hermione laughed as she jokingly slapped Ron arms.

"Look inside."

Opening the bag she found a book entitled: "Becoming an Auror: Things you Need to Know". Farther in the bag she found a golden quill, plenty of parchment, and some gold ink.

"Is this to make me feel better about having to live with Malfoy?" Hermione asked, surveying each boy carefully.

"Yea, did it work?" Ron asked, unsure of what her answer would be.

"YES!" Hermione squealed as she flung herself at both boys and gave them big hugs.

"Good," Ron said as she smiled confidently.

Author's Note: Please Review, constructive criticism is always welcome.