Disclaimer: You know already, all HP characters don't belong to me.

Author's Note: This is an alternate universe where there's no Voldemort, Hermione is a pureblood and Harry's parents are still alive.

Author's Note: Those words in italics represent French.

Thank you all for your reviews!

Chapter 9: Horrible News

Although Hermione acted as if she was calm about the whole situation, she couldn't help being worried about what Malfoy said about her marriage. What if Malfoy was right? What if her father decided to marry her off to someone else, like Viktor Krum? Not that she hated Viktor, she liked Viktor, but they broke up years ago.

Hermione was so worried that she actually spent a while thinking about the problem during Potions practical exam.

"Miss Granger, are you going to make the potion or what?" barked Professor Snape.

Hermione quickly returned to her potion.

"Poor Miss Granger, she must be thinking about her boyfriend." sneered Snape.

Malfoy could be heard laughing from where he was.

Hermione blushed furiously and glared at Malfoy. Whatever her father was intended to do, Hermione just hoped that it had nothing to do with Malfoy.

After the N.E.W.Ts, it would be home sweet home for the seventh year students. The first thing Hermione did when she got home was to go and see her parents.

"Ah, you're here. Sit down, Hermione." said Mr Granger, who looked troubled.

Hermione couldn't help being worried as she stepped into the study. Was there something wrong? Hermione sat down on a chair.

"Hermione… I remember you saying that you have a boyfriend named Harry Potter, is that correct?" asked Mr Granger.

Hermione couldn't help sighing in relief, so her parents wanted to talk about him, now that's okay. "Yes."

"Do you love him?" asked her mother.

Hermione nodded.

"And does he love you?" asked Mr Granger.

Hermione nodded again with confidence. "He does. We love each other very much."

Mr Granger nodded and muttered, "I see…"

Hermione was starting to feel hopeful. Maybe her parent would tell her that Harry could marry her after graduation…

"Well Hermione…" started Mr Granger.

Hermione leaned forward. "Yes?" she asked breathlessly.

"I afraid that you have to break up with him." said her father.

Hermione felt as if someone had just slapped her. "W-what?" she squeaked.

Her parents looked uncomfortable. "I'm sorry, Darling. But you are required to marry someone else." said Mrs Granger.

"You ARE getting married, Hermione. But not to Potter." said Malfoy in Hermione's head.

"Why?" demanded Hermione, jumping up from her chair. "Didn't you say that I can marry to anyone I want as long as I'm happy?"

"Well, yes, but…" began Mrs Granger.

"Then?" asked Hermione rudely.

"We have no choice, Hermione." said Mr Granger weakly. "The boy's father came a few weeks ago and told me that I had to marry you off to his family, whether you like it or not…"

Hermione stared at her father in disbelief. "And what's the name of the family, may I ask?"

"Malfoy." muttered her father.

Hermione's eyes widened. "Malfoy, as in Draco Malfoy?" she asked.

Her parents nodded.

For a moment, Hermione felt that she would faint on the spot. She shook her head. "No… no… no! I can't marry to Draco Malfoy! I don't want to!"

"You have to." said Mr Granger. "Mr Lucius Malfoy sent word to us a few days ago that you had to agree this marriage proposal, or he would curse me and your mother."

Hermione glared at her parents. "So that's why you agree to this marriage proposal? You two are so selfish! You rather send me to my grave than bear a curse over your heads!"

"It's not like that…" started Mr Granger.

"Hermione, look at the bright side. At least you don't have to worry about getting poor in your future, and you will have a handsome husband…" coaxed Mrs Granger.

Hermione stared at her mother angrily. "I don't care! I rather be poor and happy than rich and miserable in the future! And Harry is much handsome than Malfoy, both inside and outside!" she added.

Hermione turned to her father. "Daddy, don't marry me off to Malfoy, please." she pleaded.

Her father looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, love. I have sent word to Mr Malfoy that I have approved his marriage proposal. And I have decided not to let you go to the University of Witchcraft and Wizardry, since Mr Malfoy had asked not to let you to."

Hermione paled and took a step back. "You can't do this to me! I'm engaged, Daddy!" she said before she could stop herself.

Mr Granger blinked in surprise. "To Harry Potter?"

Hermione nodded, trying not to cry.

"Well, I will be happy to hear that if it wasn't for all this… but dear, you have to break off your engagement." said Mr Granger sadly.

"No!" said Hermione stubbornly.

"You have to." said her mother firmly. "Or we will be cursed…"

Glaring at her parents with hatred, she yelled, "I hate you both!"

She ran to her bedroom and slammed her door shut. Then she lay down on her big bed and sobbed. All her hopes of getting married with Harry had vanished.

"I don't want to be Mrs Malfoy, they can't make me!" she sobbed. "I rather die than marry to that rat!"

Meanwhile, Harry stepped out of the Auror Department, clutching the results of his entrance exams nervously.

"So how did it go?" asked his father, James Potter, anxiously.

Harry looked at his father and opened his mouth to speak.

"Oh never mind, just open it." said James impatiently.

Harry swallowed and tore open the envelope. Then he removed the results slip. James looked over his son's shoulder and read, its marking scheme was the same as OWLs:

Foreign Language (French) – O
Charms – E
Transfigurations – E
Potions – A
Defence Against the Dark Arts – O
Overall result – O

Congratulations, you have made into the Academy of Aurors in the Ministry of Magic. The school started in a month's time. You can get your uniform at Madam Malkin's. See you soon!

Harry smiled in delight.

"Yes!" yelled James and punched his fist in the air. Then he ruffled Harry's hair, making it messier than usual. "That's my boy! Imagine, my son is going to be an Auror!"

Harry couldn't help grinning. He couldn't believe that he had passed everything beautifully, even though Potions was a bit tough.

James slapped his son on the back. "So what do you say we go out tonight and celebrate? We need to get your mother along of course. And Sirius, Remus and Tonks!"

Harry smiled. "Sure."

"Great, what do you want to eat? Pizza? Steak? Wait, don't tell me, aha, I know! Sashimi!"

"But Dad, you hate Japanese food." Harry pointed out.

"Oh yeah…" mumbled James and shrugged. "Who cares? I will eat whatever you want tonight, even if it's leftovers."

Harry laughed. "Never mind, I think I will stick to a nice, big pepperoni pizza."

"Okay then!" said James and happily, he practically pulled his son to the lift. "Tomorrow, we will go and get you the Academy's uniform, oh I just can't wait to see what it looks like…"

Harry felt pleased. He couldn't wait to go over to Hermione's and tell her the good news. He could even show off his new uniform to her. He knew that she would be proud of him. Finally, Harry felt that he could match the Grangers' standards.