I don't own Harry Potter


Awkward Encounters

It was Wednesday morning at precisely 9.15 and the wizarding world had stood still, in her home seated at her kitchen table with a cup of tea slowly going cold and a slice of toast forgotten on a plate Hermione sat reading the newspaper stretched out in front of her. The news she had been aware of since Viktor's visit had now been made public. The Marriage Law had been announced. An image of Kingsley Shacklebot in his office covered the front page of the daily prophet, the words Ministry steals our freedom in large bold letters at the top. The news was now public.

All single Wizards and Witches over the age of 18 would be forced to marry. The article was filled with information, statistics of the decreasing line of witches born compared to that of Wizards, the entire population of wizards and witches over 18 were split and Hermione could clearly see the divide. Three wizards would be assigned to one witch. Three months from today the law would come commence and all who had not informed the Ministry of who they would marry by the 1st of August would be assigned life partners. Those who rebelled against the law would be forced one of two punishments, life in Azkaban or life in the Muggle World with their powers stripped from them. The more she read the article and the more information she soaked up life in the Muggle World didn't seem too bad. There were benefits to the law she assumed, wealth wouldn't be such an issue as more working adults in one house hold would generate a higher income though that would only benefit those with better paid jobs. But she wondered if that would be taken into consideration when the Ministry chose husbands. Would wealth and poverty be mixed? She was sure that would course animosity in the home though, men especially were very proud people.

The old, young and those already married were exempt of the law. There was an entire section about blood types and the growth and decrease of children been born to certain families? In the last 10 years purebloods had produced only 1 tenth of the birthing population, the other 9 tenths were mixed blood families. Muggleborns has been excluded from the study as there was still noclear reasoning to why two Muggles would have a child of magic.

In all articles scare mongering was used and the simple line of if things do not change the Pureblood population will die out in the next century, was one of them. Whether Hermione actually believed those figures she was unsure, having multiple husbands technically meant the pureblood line could die out even faster if the witch was a Muggleborn or half-blood. Folding the newspaper she placed it on the table and ran her hands through her hair and sighed.

The idea of staying home hiding under her duvet until the world has fixed itself sounded appealing but she was running low on supplies and she had already planned to go to Diagon Alley earlier in the week. Rubbing her hands over her face she stood up, the quicker she got to Diagon Alley and back the sooner she could come home and hide under her duvet with a good book. The sound of her fireplace roaring into life caused her to groan, the last thing she wanted now was a visitor. She walked into her living room to find Blaise his face pulled into a half smile and the newspaper in one hand.

"Good Morning," he said

"Is it though?" she replied and Blaise laughed.

"It is for my mother, finally her precious little boy is going to get married. She's over the moon about this law," he said before slumping on to the sofa.

"Surely it means your mother will have to remarry and have children though," but Blaise shook his head.

"Complications a few years after me with Husband number three. She discovered she had a tumour on her uterus and had it removed, so no brother or sisters for me. Just a grandchild for her."

"It's times like this I'm grateful my parents aren't around to see the mess my life is in at the moment. They'd be dragging me out of the Wizarding World and back home telling me I'd find a lovely hardworking man on my own and I wouldn't need to be enslaved to three men." She said with a sad smile. "Blaise what we going to do?"

"Marry or rebel," he said with a shrug. "It may not be all that bad, you like sex so you'll get a lot of it. He laughed and Hermione shoved him. "You know I wouldn't be opposed to marrying you Granger you are good in the sack after all." Hermione just laughed and Blaise stood from sofa with a stretch.

"Glad to know, and you're not so bad yourself," she said with a smirk.

"I just wanted to make sure you were okay anyway, I've got things I've to do so I will see you later. You know where I am if you need me." Hermione nodded softly and he reached over to place a kiss on her head. She remained silent as he disappeared through her fireplace and she wondered about his suggestion. Ginny had mentioned it the other day but would it really be such a bad idea to marry Blaise. With the thought in her mind she went for a shower.

The second she had stepped into Diagon alley she was already regretting not hiding under her duvet with a good book, people weren't happy and the streets were filled with Aurors arresting people from all different directions. She recognised Ron immediately, his flaming red hair matted to his face as he tackled a young wizard to the ground, the man's face was covered in blood and the glass to the window beside him was smashed. Pulling up her hood she darted around the crowds, the quicker she was in and out of the alley the better. She froze as she watched a group of Aurors been led by Draco race down the turn into Knock turn Alley and she could only imagine the horrors that were commencing down there. It was her day off and she was grateful she wasn't in the ministry today.

As she slipped into the bakery she grabbed a small basket and placed some bread and pumpkin pastries into the basket, her eyes darted to the treacle tarts on the shelf when she bumped into the woman beside her.

"Oh I'm sorry," she said before she saw the face also hidden under a large hood. "Mrs Malfoy." She greeted.

"Miss Granger you've decided to brave the streets as well have you."

"I'm afraid so, needed a few things and today is my day off. Wishing I had done it in my dinner break tomorrow now however. The streets are manic, I just saw your Draco leading a group of Aurors down into Diagon Alley."

At the name of her son Narcissa' face softened slightly. "It's a very busy time for the Aurors at the moment, trying to keep the peace after the news that broke this morning. It's horrible."

"It is, I knew it was coming," Hermione admitted softly looking down.

"How did you know it was coming?" Narcissa frowned. "From what I have heard it's a great surprise to all."

"It's already in America and my friend Viktor Krum; he informed me of the law the other week when he came to visit, he is to marry very soon to a single woman with two other men. He said it was coming to England very soon. When I confronted the Minister he admitted it. I fought for freedom and equality and it was all for nothing."

"I'm so sorry," Narcissa admitted and Hermione actually believed her to be genuine, "you've not had an easy time since you joined the Wizarding World 12 years ago."

"I haven't," Hermione chuckled "Now I've to find myself three suitable husbands in the next three months before the Ministry do it for me."

"Are you considering my son, from what my husband informed me on Monday night the two of you are rather close." Hermione closed her eyes so she couldn't see the smirking face of the Malfoy Matriarch, as embarrassment consumed her. "Oh don't be embarrassed I was young like you once,"

She went from embarrassed to shock in a record amount of time and Hermione bit her lip to stop her mouth from opening and causing her to resemble a fish.

"No disrespect to you Mrs Malfoy but I'm muggle born…"

"Water under the bridge, I've known about your relations for years. That boy can't hide anything from his mother, he's always been terrible at keeping secrets he's just too easy to read. Why do you think I never just arrive unannounced at his apartment? I always make sure he expects me. I don't want to happen to Lucius and Severus to happen to me."

She wasn't sure she was hearing Narcissa correctly but she simply nodded, "you're you're not mad?"

"I must admit when I first learnt of it about five years ago I wasn't best pleased but I kept my personal feelings to myself but time is a marvellous thing, and I have learnt many things in the last few years. After the war Lucius and I agreed we would put everything we believed and stood for to one side for the sake of Draco's happiness no matter what shape form or blood that was. I've seen a difference in him, after confirming with Severus about your relations I realised the change was in the form of yourself and I wouldn't get involved. Anyway it's brought me immense amusement as of Monday night for example. I cannot remember a time I found something so funny that I cried."

Hermione laughed and shook her head, "well if you must know he ruined the mood, I left not long after,"

Hermione watched as Narcissa forced her face to remain frozen, but as she looked in her eyes she could see the amusement. "I'll inform Lucius of that," she said with a smile and Hermione groaned.

"Draco is supposed to be coming for dinner tonight." She said with a smirk. "I'm not sure who is least looking forward to it Draco or his father,"

"I'd say Draco, would you have wanted your father to have walked in on you." she said and Narcissa grimaced.

"I suppose not, I guess for Lucius it is a good job Draco was a boy and not a girl."

"I'd say so,"

"Well Miss Granger, if you wouldn't mind I really do need to finish my errands and get out of here before people turn their frustration on to an old flame," she said and Hermione nodded completely understanding her words. Time may have healed many wounds but those who had avoided Azkaban such as the Malfoys still received hatred from many Wizards and Witches, and it would be very easy for her to receive blame for this simply, because right now the citizens of the wizarding world were searching for away to express their feelings no matter the consequences.

She bid Mrs Malfoy farewell and continued on with her shopping though the question was still in her mind, would she consider marrying Draco? He had tormented her throughout her years of Hogwarts and now she considered him one of her closest friends but he was still a prat and a spoilt one at that. Could she cope being Mrs Malfoy?

XXX

He was dreading tonight, he'd had a bloody horrible day at work and now he had to face his father for the next couple of hours. He still hadn't got over the embarrassment of Monday night and he was certain his father was going to say something. He dragged his tired body in to the shower and simply stood there as the water coated his body. He wanted to go to bed. Because of the Marriage law, the holding rooms in the ministry was packed from the chaos that had erupted. Shop windows were smashed, noses and ribs had been broken and he'd lost count how many people had screamed at him and blamed him for this. It was only now did he have time to truly think about the effects the law were going to have on him. He was going to be forced to marry a woman and share her with two other men. He was never very good with sharing and he'd spent his lunch discovering how similar he was to Ronald Weasley, a very unsettling discovery indeed. He was aware Potter was trying to move forward his wedding date and he wished the man all the luck, he'd be one of the last to marry normally.

Stepping out of the shower he dried himself and quickly got dressed. Looking at the clock he dragged his hands across his face. Time to face the music at the Manor. He stepped into the fireplace and called out his destination. He stepped in the east wing drawing room and dusted himself off. His parents would be waiting in the parlour on the other side of the manor, he brushed away the house elf that had appeared the second he had stepped out of the fireplace and headed towards the parlour.

He knocked once before entering the room, as usual his father was seated in his chair, angled towards the roaring fireplace his cane resting on the side and his nose deep in the daily prophet. His mother was seated on the lounge chaise a book across her lap and a pair of glasses delicately balanced on the tip of her nose, at his knock they had both looked towards the sound of the noise. He purposely avoided his father's gaze as his mother approached him with her arms spread wide.

"Finally you come to visit your poor old parents."

"Please mother, there isn't anything poor or old about you," he said and bent to kiss her cheek. Accepting a gentle hug only his mother could give. He had never been a hugger but he had never been able to object to his mother's choice of affection.

He stiffened as she let go and he turned to Lucius, "Father," he greeted with a curt nod, Lucius returned the gesture just as stiffly neither making eye contact. From the corner of his eye Draco saw his mother's face. He turned to face her with a glare but she simply continued to smirk in return.

He turned back to face his father with a glare, "you told her!" he said and Lucius smirked.

It appeared Narcissa was no longer able to control her amusement and she laughed at her son. "You should have seen his face when he returned," she laughed, now receiving a similar glare from Lucius. "I knew straight away what had happened before he told me, I've never seen him so shocked." She said gently touching Lucius cheek as she laughed.

"Glad you find my embarrassment so amusing." Draco muttered as he dropped on to the chaise. "He ruined a perfectly good evening,"

"And you have ruined many of mine when you were a child," Lucius chose at that moment to point out. "Though if you think it was a sight I wished to have seen you are gravely mistaken," he said with a wrinkle of the nose. "Never thought I'd have to see your pale backside again once you'd learnt to visit the toilet yourself."

Draco groaned, he'd only been here five minutes and he was already regretting it. "Now Lucius don't be so harsh, it's his home and he's free to entertain who he wishes and when he does so. I've told you on many occasions you shouldn't just turn up uninvited."

"Tell me something mother, how did you know what Father had witnessed before he had told you?"

"Did you honestly think you could keep secrets from me Draco? I know everything, I must say I was a little surprised at the beginning of yours and Miss Granger's relationship but it didn't take me very long to realise how foolish we were never to see it before. You've always ranted and raved about that girl, don't you remember Lucius,"

Lucius chuckled and folded his newspaper. "I was so certain it was just jealously and hatred that had made you obsessed with her, and the more she outdid you the further that hatred increased. Your mother however believed otherwise, she was certain your infatuation with the girl was more to do with feelings you had yet to accept and admit. When she told me that I had scoffed in her face but now…"

"But not I'm laughing in his, with a big fat I told you so, and a very beautiful blue bracelet for winning the bet."

"Well I'd love to say how pleased I am that my affairs are so entertaining for you both but I'd be lying." Narcissa and Lucius chuckled.

"More enjoyable for your mother as I lost the bet."

"Cannot believe you had a bet on whether I was in love with Hermione Granger or not."

"Who said anything about love Draco," said Narcissa her eyebrows inclined slightly and with one side of her mouth lifted in a smirk.

Draco froze at what his mother had said, he'd never uttered those words to any girl, had never believed he would find someone to love but yet the word filtered out so easy that he wondered whether it was true.

"I spoke with her in Diagon Alley this morning," Narcissa said, "smart girl but we already knew that, brave for certain but you can see in her eyes, there's sadness and hurt and I can already tell she's weighing up her options on whether she would truly be happy remaining in the Wizarding World."

"It's a prison sentence for the girls more so than the boys," said Lucius, "You've still very much have your freedom. Go to work, socalise with your friends. The witches of society will be ultimately forced to look after their three husbands and their several children."

"Maybe but I'm sure with the husbands could take more time off work and the woman could go out to work if they so wished. I know when I marry, if my bride wants that the option to work then I would allow it."

Narcissa and Lucius looked at one another and Draco frowned. "Hate when you do that, you make me feel like a small child whose parents are silently discussing how best to discipline their child."

"I'm just surprised by your comment that is all," said Narcissa. "Never has a Malfoy bride had to work, it wasn't their duty."

"And never has there been a law forcing four people to marry. Times have changed mother over the last few years and I've chosen to alter some of my beliefs alongside this change. I don't know who my bride will be, I'm sure over the next few months I shall make the correct choice for myself and from then we shall see what the future holds."

As the evening progressed the conversation slowly changed from the law and Hermione Granger to other more familiar topics and before long it was finally time for Draco to leave. The awkwardness of the night had faded away and as Lucius climbed into bed that night his mind took him back to the topic in the parlour. This new law was ultimately going to see to the end of the Malfoy dynasty as it was. Draco was going to be forced to marry a suitable suitor, and his children would have half siblings to other men. He understood the reason behind the law but surely by breeding every woman in the country it was going to cause further interbreeding for the future generations.

"Who do you think Draco will chose as his bride?" Lucius asked Narcissa as she settled beside him. Narcissa looked at her husband for a moment before simply saying one name. "Hermione Granger,"

Lucius frowned, "she's Muggleborn and Draco knows perfectly well the importance of our heritage. What about Pansy Parkinson?" Narcissa wrinkled her nose. "Daphne or Astoria Greengrass."

"I like the Greengrass girls but I'm telling you now Lucius he will chose Hermione Granger. Muggleborn or not he's going to follow his heart and his heart as always pointed towards her. Anyway I like her."

"I'm not sure I'll be able to look her in the eye that must be said," Narcissa snorted, before resting her head against Lucius's chest.

"Times are changing, in the past we didn't move along with them and nearly destroyed our entire family. Now I'm prepared to move forwards for Draco and watch the journey he will take the Malfoy name on. I know our heritage is important to you Lucius but I think you may even surprise yourself with how things will turn out."

Lucius rolled his eyes but said nothing, he was old fashioned but he wasn't blind and he could understand perfectly why Draco was interested in Hermione Granger, if he himself had been younger he was certain he'd have thought the same and though he respected the girl and he knew the likely hood of Hermione Granger becoming his daughter in law a part of him was still hoping Draco was going to follow tradition and find a nice pureblood girl.


I'm sorry its been so long but hopefully you'll enjoy this chapter!

Thanks Lottie