My Ferret 8

Just then the front door opened and her parents entered, their arms full of groceries. Their eyes landed on the Death Eater standing in their living room and they paused, surprise clear on their faces. Her father put his sacks down and stepped closer to the silver-haired man. "Who are you and what are you doing in my house?"

A pleasant smile appeared on the Death Eater's face as he stepped towards Hermione's father, his head held high. Walking stick clutched in one hand, he politely offered the other gloved hand to the Muggle to shake. "Lucius Malfoy, School Governor. My son attends Hogwarts with your daughter."

"Oh! It's a pleasure to meet you." Mr. Granger said as he accepted the black-gloved hand and shook it, an uncertain smile on his face. His eyes flickered to the doorway and Hermione felt his questioning gaze focus on her. Intense heat rushed up into her face as she realized her parents were now staring at her, Draco's hand still on her chin. And he was standing so close, one hand still on her back in a partial embrace.

/Oh no…./

The idea of being caught so close to a boy in front of her parents was more than she could stand and she hastily leaped away from the blonde Slytherin. Her long dress tangled around her legs in her haste and she picked up the heavy velvet material to smooth it out. Once it was fixed, her chocolate eyes darted around the small living room. She was uncertain what she should do or where she should stand. Her eyes landed on the nearby TV and she made her way over to it, her heart pounded in her chest.

/Oooh, how did other girls do this?./

The thing is, she had no idea whatsoever. Did they just ask permission to start dating or did the parents bring it up first? Or was it a mix of the two situations? However it was normally handled, it had been skipped over in her house and now she was paying the price. She supposed she should just be grateful that they hadn't walked in while Draco had kissed her earlier. Logically, she knew she was old enough to start dating, but she just felt so awkward about the situation.

/And it's just going to get worst…/

As if reading her mind, Mr. Granger returned his attention to the silver-haired Death Eater. "Is there some problem?"

"A slight matter has been brought to my attention." Lucius said smoothly.

"What sort of matter?" Mrs. Granger asked as she set down her paper sacks of groceries and moved to stand beside her husband, a concerned look on her face. After exchanging glances with her husband, she returned her attention to the Death Eater. "This doesn't have anything to do with that person, does it?"

"Person?" Lucius asked, one dark brow rising in question.

"That evil wizard fellow…" Mr. Granger replied. "Hermione has told us a bit about that. Of course, some of it is hard to believe. I mean, people just don't come back from the dead…"

Lucius grinned, no doubt amused. "No, is has nothing to do with that. This is more of a personal matter. Did you notice per chance a white ferret yesterday? I understand your daughter had it when you picked her up at the train station."

A puzzled expression appeared on Mr. Granger's face. "Yes, so?"

"Well," Lucius said innocently as he glanced from one Muggle to the other. "I'm afraid that ferret was my son, Draco."

000

Draco gulped nervously as he saw his father motion with his arm for him to come forward. He had never actually met a real Muggle before and the thought still scared him a bit, old stories and legends flashing through his mind. He just didn't know what to expect. He wasn't stupid though. He knew any decent father should be furious at the thought of a boy being in his teenage daughters room overnight. And that was exactly where he had been, although it was not really his fault. He had been unable to tell anyone who he had really been nor could he get out of the room. Besides, that terrible ginger beast was loose in the house somewhere and like Hermione had pointed out to him, a cat might enjoy eating a ferret. But now he faced a much worst problem: her parents.

/Father will protect me though…./

That he was certain of.

Mr. Granger gawked at the two Malfoys, clearly surprised. "You … you were the ferret?"

Draco gulped silently, only the bump in his throat giving away his nervousness. He reminded himself that the man before him was just a Muggle and couldn't really do him anything; that there was no reason to be scared. The man did look a bit soft and was probably weak as well. Of course, Draco had no idea that dentists had strong arms for pulling bad teeth out of the gums. Even if the tissue around the tooth was cut, it wasn't an easy feet to pull the tooth out. Calling on his years of acting superior to the likes of Potter, Draco stood up straight and hid his fear. "Yes, Mr. Granger. Weasley turned me into a ferret on the train and Hermione took me home, thinking I was a real ferret."

"But…" Mr. Granger looked from one Malfoy to the other in confusion as he tried to grasp the idea that people could turn into animals. "But wasn't it in her room last night…"

"And that is why they need to be married." Lucius replied coolly.

"What? MARRIED?" Mr. Granger exclaimed loudly, shocked. His mouth hung open but he quickly closed it, his eyes narrowing. "You can't be serious! Hermione is only sixteen. She's far too young to get married!"

"Nether less, it is what honor demands." Lucius stated with head held high, his cold gray eyes watching the two Muggles before him. One hand rested on his son's shoulder, the black of his leather glove blending with the black school robe Draco wore. "Perhaps you think such an occurrence is insignificant, but I do not. The Malfoys have held to these rules of conduct for hundreds of years and we're not going to change them now because you disagree. It is improper to leave two teenage children unsupervised, especially at their age. And in a bedroom no less…"

Mr. Granger frowned as his eyes darted from Draco to where his daughter stood. It was clear to Draco that the man was beginning to grasp what his father was suggesting and didn't care for it. His eyes darkened a shade and his face turned slightly reddish, the vein at the side of his neck standing out.

/Oh, Merlin! Now Father really made him angry!./

Draco backed up a step, uncertain if he wished to be close by when the Muggle lost his temper. His hand inched toward the wand that was still in his back pocket, his long slim fingers closing around the smooth wood. Silently he pulled it free and held it against his leg, the tip pointing at the floor.

"My daughter would never do anything improper, whether we're there to supervise or not!" Mr. Granger cried feeling insulted. "We raised her properly and we trust her judgment impeccably. And for you to suggest otherwise is insulting."

Mrs. Granger hurried across the room and wrapped her arms about Hermione's shoulders. "She's just sixteen and hasn't even dated yet! It's unfair to force her to marry anyone, even if that someone is your son!"

Lucius smirked and raised one dark brow. "And if they love each other?"

000

Hermione felt her face flush at the revealing words and hoped her parents wouldn't notice. But of course they did. It would be almost impossible for them not to notice it.

"Is that true, Hermione?" Her mother asked as she pulled back slightly, her arms still around her shoulders. "Do you love him?"

Nervously, Hermione nodded as she blushed furiously. But with any luck this whole thing would be over soon and then she could continue her life without the constant threat of embarrassment. Had her mother been this embarrassed years ago when she had first started dating? Or was it just her? How could she have enough guts to stick up for house elves and go against the entire school on that subject and yet find herself mute just because she likes a boy?

"Our little girl is growing up." Mrs. Granger commented with a smile. "But I still think she's far too young to get married."

"I would be satisfied with an engagement." Lucius stated from where he stood watching mother and daughter, his hand still on Draco's shoulder. "I assure you, this arrangement is in your daughter's best interest and as a Pureblood I do not make it likely. She would benefit greatly by marrying into the family and I believe she would fit in nicely, even if she has Muggle parents. The Season is coming up and she'll need to attend. That should satisfy your requirements for dating I do believe."

"Season?" Mrs. Granger asked, a puzzled look on her face.

"The Season consists of many balls and other social functions enjoyed by the wealthy Pureblood families of the Wizarding society."

"Balls?" Mr. Granger repeated dumbly as he gawked at Lucius. "Isn't that the sort of thing the Royal Family does?"

Lucius waved a black-gloved hand, a disgusted look on his face. "Muggles! We have been holding the Season for hundreds of years. It's a time-honored tradition and people of impure blood do not get invited. Still, I'm taking great risk on your daughter's account by inviting her. Honor must be met. The rules are very clear on that. Lesser families may bow out and make excuses due to her blood, but Malfoys do not act that way. We will uphold our end."

Mr. Granger was taken aback, confused by the wizard's words. He had never encountered a Britain before that spoke of the Royal Family in such a tone and not to mention those words about blood… "What do you mean by impure blood? Are you suggesting my daughter isn't good enough for your son? Because she gets perfect grades in that school of yours!"

"Yes, I'm very aware of that." Lucius admitted as he glanced down at Draco, a slight frown marring his face. "She beats Draco in every subject with the exception of riding a broom and that, I'm afraid, is nothing to brag of. Normally I'd never consider a Muggle-born to be a suitable wife for Draco. You must understand that our family has been wizards and witches for over a thousand years. The tradition is to marry other Purebloods. By marrying a Muggle-born we risk squibs being born into the family; children with no magic whatsoever. And that is a true horror for the Purebloods. Over the centuries the number of Pureblood families have been on the decline and today there are just a handful. We risk interbreeding too much but at the same time we do not want our ancient ways to be contaminated by Muggle ways of thinking. I think, perhaps, your daughter is the rare exception to that rule."

Hermione felt her parents gaze focus on her and they noted again what she was wearing.

"As you can see," Lucius continued. "She appreciates our way of life. My wife dresses in a similar fashion. To your Muggle ways of thinking, we live old-fashioned. The Season, of course, is part of that way of life. But if may not be easy for her to win over the other Purebloods. They would view her as an outsider. And that is what I meant by impure blood."

"Well, I still say she's too young to get married." Mr. Granger stated as he moved to stand beside his wife and daughter. "But I suppose it couldn't hurt to attend this Season of yours, if she wants to. I'll not have you force her into anything. And then, later, if she wants to marry your son she can."

"That seems reasonable." Lucius remarked.

Her father focused his attention on her. "Do you want to attend these balls with his son?"

Hermione imagined wearing a beautiful gown and flying across the floor in Draco's arms while soft music played. It would be like the Yule Ball from Fourth Year but only better. Yes, things may not go smoothly due to the other Purebloods but she couldn't let that stop her. A person never won anything by being a quitter. An opportunity had presented itself and she needed to hang on to it with both hands before it flew off to be lost forever.

"Of course I do, Dad!" Hermione exclaimed as she smiled happily at her father. "It would be a dream come true!"

Instead of having the usual summer worrying about Voldemort, she would have a summer of romance!

To be continued…

Author's Note: Sorry this is so short. I've been sick the last few days with a cold or I would have gotten this posted a lot sooner. I'll give you a much longer chapter next time to make up for the extreme shortness of this one. OK? And I'll try to post a new chapter tomorrow.