Chapter 3: The Chosen and Her Resolution
Hermione groaned inwardly. Draco Malfoy was outside her office yet again. Can't he leave me alone? I already told him I can't help.
"Granger, I really need your assistance with this."
"Draco Lucius Malfoy, the Great Slytherin Prince, is resorting to stalking and begging Mudblood Granger of Gryffindor?" She gave an incredulous and sarcastic laugh, hoping he'd be humiliated.
"Granger!" His eyes flashed with anger. He wanted nothing more than to slam her against the wall and threaten her. He wouldn't of course. He wouldn't lower himself to touch a mudblood, at least not willingly. "Don't push it. I'm willing to pay you."
"Pay me for what? I can't off you any legal counsel. There's nothing I can do."
"Introduce me to some mudbloods."
Hermione once again laughed this time, mocking his ridiculousness. "Why in Merlin's name should I do something like that?"
"I'll pay. Anything you want. Anything."
"Look around, Malfoy. I don't need your money. My friends are priceless to me and your worthless galleons can't buy them. And, your attitude isn't deserving."
"Look, I'm trying to be nice."
"I don't know what Daddy Malfoy taught you, but saying 'mudblood' is not nice. You think that after everything you've said and done over these years, I would subject my friends to such treatment?" She sat at her desk, ready to begin her day. Maybe if she ignored him again he'd get fed up and leave. However, Draco Malfoy, as much as he'd love to leave her company, had too much pride to do what a mudblood wished of him. She was going to put up with his company until he got his way.
Hermione sighed when she looked at the clock. It was now lunch time and Draco had sat opposite her the entire morning, staring at her blankly. "Don't you have work to do or something?"
"At this point, my job is to harass you into introducing me to your friends." He smirked, she was not happy and it was pleasing him to no end.
"Malfoy, go to your office and do your work!"
"No!"
"You're such a child! You deserve to be miserable."
Draco was about to throw a retort to her, but he was interrupted by the large tricolored barn own wrapping on her window; a white and gold envelope was gripped gingerly in its beak. Draco smirked, or it was still there; it was usually permanently plastered to his face so Hermione stopped bothering to figure out if it was ever gone. She was more consumed in finding out the rest of her unfortunate life. She fell to her knees, too afraid to open it; yet, she knew she'd have to eventually. What if it said Ron? Once this letter was opened, she'd have until their deadline – if they had any time left – to find a suitor. She could never find a suitor that soon.
Draco wanted to see the letter. He knew what its contents were; he just wanted to know what poor wizard was going to be blessed to marry this prude. He watched her. She wasn't moving from her spot, she wasn't crying, she wasn't breathing sighs of relief; hell, she wasn't even making to open the envelope.
"Granger? Hello? Granger!" He was waving his hand in her vision, her unblinking eyes not bothering to follow. "GRANGER!"
"Huh?! Wha-?" Hermione snapped out of her daze and looked down at the envelope. She couldn't open in now; she wanted to be alone, and certainly not in the graces of Malfoy of all people. He'd only laugh at her misfortunes. No, she would rather be alone with no one to comfort her. "Sorry. I think… I'll just…" She put the letter in her purse.
"Aren't you going to see who your intended is?"
"Not now. Not here. Not with you." She walked out the door. Her words were not malicious, they held no contempt, and he couldn't for the life of him place why she was so emotionless when she hadn't even seen who it was. For all she knew, it could have been a jolly ole chap that would treat her right. Draco didn't like mudbloods, he swore he never would; but he had to admit that he was not blind to the few pure blooded wizards that were sympathetic to the mudbloods. Fucking blood traitors; every last one of them. Draco seated himself once more. Granger was bound to come back; and when she did, he'd be there to harass her some more.
He waited as the seconds turned to minutes, and the minutes turned a new hour. Granger is late coming back from lunch. Draco spied the letter sticking up out of her purse and he gently took it out of its place. Sure, Granger may not want to know at the moment; but Draco was, for some unknown reason to himself, too curious for his own good. He held the letter to the light and in large, bolded, script he could make out one name; Draco Lucius Malfoy.
"Curiosity killed the cat, Malfoy." The voice was irritated and made him freeze, turning on his heel. He met Hermione's face and for a sudden moment, he felt immensely powerful. He had the upper hand, he had the advantage; and Malfoy was never above playing dirty tricks.
He gave a smirk. Oh how she hated that infamous smirk of his. He slowly walked towards her, an evil plotting gleam in his eye. Hermione wasn't one to lie about her emotions; and right now she had to admit, she was pretty damn scared. He backed her into a corner, placing his arm above her head on the wall; his face came within mere centimeters. "Aye, but satisfaction brought him back."
"Did I give you permission to go through my stuff?"
"I don't need your permission. I'm above you mudblood. I control everything you can do. I can't wait for this. However, there is one way to keep me out of your life." He added the last bit thoughtfully, hoping she'd buy into a little hope and get desperate.
"What?"
"Introduce me to some mudbloods so I can get married before they assign me."
"No way! Go meet them yourself."
"Ok, can't say I didn't try." He gave her another smirk and this time she acted on her impulse.
Whack! Ka-thud!
Draco Malfoy hit the floor, his hand reaching to his stinging cheek that was beginning to redden and welt. "You bitch!" Draco raised his clenched fist to hit her. She noted his fist coming at her and squeezed her eyes shut; waiting for the impact that was sure to hurt.
1…2…3… seconds go by… Hermione opened her eyes slowly and Draco's fist was inches from her face. His eyes were shut tight and he was shaking with fury. It was taking every ounce of self-control to not knock her out. When he lowered his fist and did a half turn, she blinked her eyes curiously at him.
"You know, Granger. All these years, I've said a lot of shit, did a lot of things, ratted you and your friends out, but I can't recall a single time I ever raised a fist to you. I am not going to start. You may be a mudblood, and undeserving of your magic; but you're still a woman and I will never bring myself to such a pitiful level that I will hit a girl. Count your lucky blessings." Draco dropped her letter on the table and walked out of her office in a huff.
0-0-0-0
Draco kicked a door in the manor. How fucking infuriating! That damned bitch! Can't she see we'll be stuck together if she doesn't introduce me to some mudbloods? It would save her ass too! Not that Draco actually told Hermione that he was the one in the letter. He wasn't going to do that. She probably wouldn't look at the letter. She would probably wait until someone owled her to make arrangements. Hell, let her. The only choice left is Draco had to find someone else; lest he be stuck with, Hermione Jean Mudblood Granger.
"Son, kindly do not destroy our manor." Lucius was a level headed guy; once you got past the short temper and violent ways and the ability to lay lower than mud. He was generally very patient with Draco, though he did have the temper issues; Narcissa was proof of this. She had accepted every beating Lucius dealt to her; many on Draco's behalf. She would step in to protect her young, she was a noble mother who genuinely cared for her boy. Draco was sure to say, Narcissa was the only reason he was alive today.
"Father, I know who I'll be assigned to; that is, unless we can find me someone."
"Oh?" Lucius's interest was spiked as he raised his eyebrows and lowered the newspaper.
"Mudblood Granger of Gryffindor."
"The one that always one-ups you? The nosy, bookworm?" Draco only nodded, running his hand through his hair.
"She got her letter today and I saw my name. She doesn't know it yet, unless she read it after work."
"I think she'd be a decent choice." Narcissa piped up.
"Mother! You speak blasphemy."
"Oh, quite fluently. But be reasonable. She's the only kid in the entire school that out did you in academics, performance. She may be an ugly little twit; but, she is certainly not stupid. Fine specimen of intelligence, that girl is. Together, your kids would be top of their years; intelligent, witty, brave, manipulative – and if they're lucky enough to inherit Malfoy genes, they'd be beautiful."
"Mother… how many kids do you expect me to conceive with a mudblood? The ministry only requires one. I refuse to touch a mudblood anymore than necessary to create that one child."
"What a miserable life marriage is without sex."
"Mother!"
"It's true! It's very important to your marriage."
"Maybe, but when you're being forced to marry there's no need for the love and emotions and connections. They'd only get in the way. I'll make the bloody child and leave the wife in the cellar. When the kid is legal, I'll disown it. Simple as that."
"Wrong! No child shall be disowned from the manor without disgracing the name."
"Being a half breed is a disgrace."
"I won't allow it! If you do it, you'll lose your inheritance. The Malfoy name needs an heir and if you're giving up your children, I cannot let you inherit anything." Lucius was not angry with his words, they were more of a this-is-final-so-I-don't-want-to-hear-another-word-on-the-matter. Draco knew right then to shut up about kids.
"Regardless, I can't marry Granger. She's a prude, she's a goody goody. Her relationship with Potter and Weasley is so sweet, I get cavities just looking."
"Use the marriage to rub it in Potter's face then?" Lucius suggested it only half seriously but it was enough to make Draco laugh. He hadn't once thought of how Potter would react to his best friend marrying his worst enemy.
A/N::
It's not terribly short… but still slightly shorter than what I planned. I have a pretty bad headache and stuff though so I'm going to shower and sleep before my classes.
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~ Cry
